So I was thinking about some stuff that was upsetting me, political stuff mostly, when I decided to pull out A Guild for the Advanced Soul, a book with quotes from various people on various things. On the cover it says “Hold a problem in your mind. Open this book to any page and there will be your answer”. Well I have done this before and it works well. The secret of this book isn’t magic (it could be that too) but the fact that EVERY quote is a good one and even if it doesn’t apply to your thoughts, it’s still an up lifting quote that makes you feel better. Still about two out of three times it seems spot on. (for my more scientific friends I put in the word “seems” as I haven't actually done a test to check the numbers and YES I do know that my expectations can taint my perceptions) This time it hit me in the GUT, like it was a loan shark and I was a guy who had just lost a big bet. The quote it gave was this:
“Be aware of the reality of your feelings. As you become more aware of your beliefs over a period of them, you will see how they bring forth certain feelings automatically. A man who is sure of himself is NOT angry at every slight done to him, nor does he carry grudges. A man who fears for his own worth, however, IS furious under such conditions. The free flow of your emotions will always lead you back to your conscious beliefs if you do not impede them.”
Jane Roberts
“Ok, Bradleyman, what’s your point” I hear you ask “What has that quote to do with ANYTHING”
Glad you asked. I was becoming once again angry at both political parties (If you didn’t see that as part of the problem then this must be the first time you have read my blog, Welcome) and unreasonably so. The “I called you a traitor for not supporting the President during the Bush years, but say worse things about Obama and am too stupid to see it’s the same thing” branch of the Republicans and the “Look we are nicer then they are so please ignore the Two years we controlled the congress under Bush AND the fact that we can’t get ANYTHING done even with a president who matches us” Democrats, had combined in my head to make the “Two big groups who don’t have a single person capable of admitting that a mistake even could be made, much less need fixing” a monster that was causing me to RAGE. If we believe the above quote (and I do), that means I am unsure of my political position.
To quote the old Batman Show “,ZOT! POW BAM!!!!” WHAT!!! Ouch... It was true, I am uncertain. Despite planting my feet firmly on about three issues, and stubbornly refusing to be a party to either party, I am uncertain on A LOT of political stuff. I DO NOT have the answers for many issues, not do I know anyone who does. The one thing I am sure of, on a deeply personal level is that niter of the big two parties in this country have the answers either. However, that I know they are both wrong, doesn’t mean I have clue one what the right answers are, and not having those answers is indeed the source of my frustration which sadly keeps turning in to anger. Once it becomes anger I direct my energies at being mad rather than at a possible solution. Now I’m not saying I would have an idea or the energy to enact it, just because I had the idea, but I might, or some else might have the time and energy if I told them. However I CAN NOT have an idea while being pointlessly angry.
So what am I going to do? I am going to try to maintain my cool while becoming certain in my convictions. I am going to try to aloe the free flow of my emotions to lead me back to my conscious beliefs, and try not to impede them. This will be hard in the face or Republicans who think defending a traitorous war monger is in some way moral, or Democrats who think spending lots of the money while talking much and doing little is a good way to govern. It will be hard while I don’t have at least an idea of an answer to not attack the inaccurate ideas of both parties. It will be hard, and this paragraph shows me I have a long way to go. It will be hard, but it HAS to be better than being frustrated and disappointed. It will be hard BUT it will be worth it.
Now don’t fear reader this doesn’t mean I won’t be blogging or even that I won’t be ranting about these things in my blog. I have other things I can blog about and hopefully I can make my political rants amusing again. Also I have a LONG way to go and there is a still lot of time for both parties to annoy me.
However, my new goal is not to take quite so personally all of this political BS that is thrown at me by the big two. After all if they are angry enough to yell, or accuse the other side while ignoring their own problems, or post NOTHING but political comments, links, and blogs then they are according to the above NOT sure of themselves either, and knowing that about all of them (you?) I can relax a little.
So here’s to being calm and rational
Bradleyman
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
A and B
Hey out there in Blog land,
It’s me your friendly internet Bradleyman. I have developed a bit of a problem. I have a peeve, and indeed it is of the pet type. The worst part, I do it to, as a knee jerk reaction. Most of the time I try to edit myself before I say anything. I know I try to stop myself before I post or publish anything written, because I have had to stop myself so often.
“Ok Brad, stop the sphinx like riddling and get to the point!” I hear you say oh readers, and I respond with all of the speed and seriousness that this paragraph of two sentences one a quote and one an unending run on deserve.
The peeve is, using the actions of A to argue why B isn’t so bad. In this case A is either the Republicans or the Democrats and B is the other of the two.
I am an independent guy with a “devil’s advocate” type brain. So I often ask questions of people out in the world of the internet. During the election whenever I would ask a Republican about any of the issues I had with the party I would get a list of things that were wrong with the Democrats. I thought this was a Right Wing thing, until Obama got nominated. Once that happened any questions I asked of the Democrats became a list of things that were wrong with the Republicans. This second group I even backed at first. My politics are closer to “democrat” so I blinded myself, at first.
Thing is the Republicans doing this made me REALY nuts. So I started to say (well write) something and I relized I was about to respond by DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. This was January of this year, and I have spent the last few months sensitized to both sides doing this AND fighting my urge to use it. See thing is what the other party is doing has NO bearing on my problems with you and your party.
Let me explain, when two twelve year olds whom we will call AviDem and CarmenRep, get in to a fight and get caught. CarmenRep hit AviDem for taking her share of the lemonade stand. When confronted CarmenRep says “BUT she took my Money” and AviDem says “But she hit me first”. Now which or those two arguments keep a child out of time out? If you said neither well then you and I agree. The fact is both the theft and the fight were wrong and neither justifies the other.
Also most of the time this is a tactic used by the guilty, to use the 12 year olds as an example, AviDem almost currently DID take the money and there is about a 95% chance that CarmenRep threw the first punch. Just as in politics the Democrats are being “tax & Spend” and the Republicans are “business first, people second” in terms of thinking. So seeing as this is most often the tactic of the guilty I think from now I will treat it as such.
That’s right as of now if you used this tactic my new answer will be “So then since you changed the subject I must be right about your side.”
So Democrats spend too much on social stuff and Republicans like war.
Neither acts Christ like. Both have done things I think are wrong, and that I can argue hurt the country. Both have people who have called me Un-American, because I wouldn’t put their party before our country. Both have made hatful comments that they didn’t necessarily mean as hateful then told me to “get over it” when I complained, rather than apologizing as would be polite.
I am neither party. Both are wrong and damaging, and the fact that both sides can’t deny there crimes but instead list the crimes (and yes I am exaggerating when I use the word crimes) of the other side, is all the proof I require to not be a part of EITHER.
So any who I hope to be lighter hearted next time,
Bradleyman
It’s me your friendly internet Bradleyman. I have developed a bit of a problem. I have a peeve, and indeed it is of the pet type. The worst part, I do it to, as a knee jerk reaction. Most of the time I try to edit myself before I say anything. I know I try to stop myself before I post or publish anything written, because I have had to stop myself so often.
“Ok Brad, stop the sphinx like riddling and get to the point!” I hear you say oh readers, and I respond with all of the speed and seriousness that this paragraph of two sentences one a quote and one an unending run on deserve.
The peeve is, using the actions of A to argue why B isn’t so bad. In this case A is either the Republicans or the Democrats and B is the other of the two.
I am an independent guy with a “devil’s advocate” type brain. So I often ask questions of people out in the world of the internet. During the election whenever I would ask a Republican about any of the issues I had with the party I would get a list of things that were wrong with the Democrats. I thought this was a Right Wing thing, until Obama got nominated. Once that happened any questions I asked of the Democrats became a list of things that were wrong with the Republicans. This second group I even backed at first. My politics are closer to “democrat” so I blinded myself, at first.
Thing is the Republicans doing this made me REALY nuts. So I started to say (well write) something and I relized I was about to respond by DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. This was January of this year, and I have spent the last few months sensitized to both sides doing this AND fighting my urge to use it. See thing is what the other party is doing has NO bearing on my problems with you and your party.
Let me explain, when two twelve year olds whom we will call AviDem and CarmenRep, get in to a fight and get caught. CarmenRep hit AviDem for taking her share of the lemonade stand. When confronted CarmenRep says “BUT she took my Money” and AviDem says “But she hit me first”. Now which or those two arguments keep a child out of time out? If you said neither well then you and I agree. The fact is both the theft and the fight were wrong and neither justifies the other.
Also most of the time this is a tactic used by the guilty, to use the 12 year olds as an example, AviDem almost currently DID take the money and there is about a 95% chance that CarmenRep threw the first punch. Just as in politics the Democrats are being “tax & Spend” and the Republicans are “business first, people second” in terms of thinking. So seeing as this is most often the tactic of the guilty I think from now I will treat it as such.
That’s right as of now if you used this tactic my new answer will be “So then since you changed the subject I must be right about your side.”
So Democrats spend too much on social stuff and Republicans like war.
Neither acts Christ like. Both have done things I think are wrong, and that I can argue hurt the country. Both have people who have called me Un-American, because I wouldn’t put their party before our country. Both have made hatful comments that they didn’t necessarily mean as hateful then told me to “get over it” when I complained, rather than apologizing as would be polite.
I am neither party. Both are wrong and damaging, and the fact that both sides can’t deny there crimes but instead list the crimes (and yes I am exaggerating when I use the word crimes) of the other side, is all the proof I require to not be a part of EITHER.
So any who I hope to be lighter hearted next time,
Bradleyman
Monday, July 13, 2009
PB
(Activate: Cheesy Announcer Voice, Eighty’s) It’s Monday Jul. 11th 2009 SOOOOOO Lets Play everybody’s favorite game show: (Add pre recorded “crowd” shouting with C.A.V.E) “BLOGING WITH BRADLEYMAN!!!!!!!” (Deactivate “crowd” voices cue canned applause) With your host….Faster than a speeding…oh hey you know he is……..BRADLEYMAN!!!!! (Up canned applause for .5 seconds then slow fade to sound “organic”)(Deactivate C.A.V.E)
Hi everyone and welcome to Blogging with Bradleyman, I’ll me your host, Brad “Bradleyman” Null.
So before we jump in to the “HAPPY” part of this blog (and my one goal with this particular blog is to try and spread HAPPY to all who want some) a quick note. In my last blog I posted a hate letter, I had received, and a lot of you out there (well a lot for my current audience as I understand it) were apologetic and or concerned. I reported it to Facebook they sent me an automatic e-mail and as long as I never hear from her again, I consider the mater closed. It’s not the worst I have ever got but it did surprise me. It’s not the reason most lunatics choose to hate me for. I do thank everyone for your support and kind thoughts, I really was more amused than upset BUT had I been truly up set it’s nice to know you all were there.
SO now on with the Blog:
I was watching The Princes Bride again few weeks back and I had a series of thoughts about what is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIES. Now before we go on yes I am possibly going to be critical of some of what happens in the movie, if you are a fan to the film and loyal to the point you could be mistaken for a “Twilight Girl” or “Marvel Dude”, then stop reading. No really stop right now! OK, but you were warned and if you respond in any way I may mock you.
My first thought; “This movie ACTULY rocks more in wide screen”. I missed the Film in theatres and I am pretty sure I never saw it in wide screen until this year. It was almost like watching a “NEW AND IMPROVED” version of the film. When you have seen a film as often as I have this one, And I once had a roommate* who watched it weekly and recited the lines from the Nintendo sound effect to grandpa’s “as you wish”, you start to kind of half watch it, the new format caused me to pay attention in a way I haven’t for years (well except for the parts with Fezzik and/ or Inigo) and that led to the rest of these thoughts.
Second thought; “for all her beauty, Buttercup is useless.” She starts out crewel, then becomes demanding, then gives up hope, then in the swamp she nearly gets Westly killed then pokes at R.O.U.S. with a stick while he fights. I have had this thought before and even blogged about so, we will move on.
Third thought; “this movie is SOOOOOOO COOL”. This is more of a constant under-thought to any thought I have while watching this film. I just thought you should be aware that my inner child goes nuts for this like it’s a mid 80’ X-men comic (you know the ones I think are BEST cause’ they came out when I was a kid).
Forth thought; Now I had this thought as Westly was knocked unconscious by the five fingered man. It so upset my being that I had to go back and re watch the timing. (thank you FiOS for letting me, as I no longer have a VHS on which to play my copy**) SO I went back and watched. The quote is “Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.” It’s a quote used by MANY of my friends. They all seem to think it’s a great life philosophy. The quote is often used to justify actions that have caused pain. Now first off using ANY quote from ANY movie as if it is proof of something is questionable at best. Secondly, seconds later, Westly/The man in Black, no longer believes it. The MOMENT he tumbles down that hill saying “As you wish”, which means “I love you” as established earlier by grandpa, he no longer believes that “life is pain”. Furthermore, the point of the movie is that “love conquers all”. The “all” in question includes “pain”. No Italian I know quotes Vizzini’s line about Sicilians and Death, WHY because he dies seconds later, disproving his statement. Seconds later (as if to even suggest that it too might be a false but believed statement) we get the “life is pain” quote. Seconds after that “as you wish”/”I love you” showing he no longer believes.
So to everyone who has ever used the “life is pain” quote to punctuate an argument where I was naive for believing something different; “HEY the entire point of that quote in the movie was that it was WRONG, using it just proves that you are both wrong and ignorant of what you are quoting. If you are provably wrong and ignorant in the use of your “witty pop culture” quote, then why should I trust ANYTHING you say, especially about the nature of what life “IS”? I hope all the people who have done that read this blog that was way too much to rewrite and repeat too often.
Fifth thought; “as long as we have rewind let’s watch the full screen version of the sword fight on the cliffs. THAT’S so COOL.” (repeat 5 or 6 times until you start trying to argue with yourself as to which is better this sword fight or the one in the Blacksmiths shop in the first Pirates of the Caribbean, cliffs win this week but I am fickle)
Sixth thought; “Billy Crystal is the funniest part of this…..OH wait second Carol Cain as “HIS WIFE!!, but I don’t even want to be that any more” may beat him…EH the characters are married will call it a tie.” ‘Nuff said.
Seventh thought; “Yeah why didn’t you count the wheelbarrow as an asset” The cloak I understand, but a wheelbarrow is useful in the construction of a ramming device at the very least. You don’t have to be MR. “I am descended from Ulysses and my ancestors will be The Fox and The Bat” ***to know that.
Eighth thought; “hello, my name is….OH dear gods it’s stuck in my head again!!!!” I love the Inigo/ five finger man fight. Watching Inigo come back to life to finish the “son of a bitch” who took his father is one of the greatest moments in film. That said, once I watch the move, for weeks, sometimes mouths EVERY time someone says “hello” the quote (you know the one) finishes it’s self in my head. If anyone else has this problem let me know, if not I may need to seek therapy.
Ninth thought; (upon viewing the “to the pain” moment and in reference to my forth thought) “See the movie admits there is pain, the threat of it can even help love win”. This was me in my head still arguing with all of those who think my happy outlook is naive. (which by the by is counterproductive to the whole “happy” thing, and is totally my bad as it’s all in my head—sigh--) This thought is mostly redundant, and I wouldn’t even mention it, if it hadn’t of led to my next thought.
Tenth thought; (after having thought nine while watching Westly offer the “Dread Pirate Roberts” identity to Inigo) “Hey wait, this may be a ‘love conquers all’ movie but this is NOT a good defeats evil movie.” That’s right, there are no real “good guys” in this movie. Buttercup is pretty and loving, AFTER being love changed her from the crewel girl she was in the beginning and changed or not she is WORTHLES in the fire swamps and a whiner every second she is not in Westley’s presence. Westly, while the champion for love (once he pulls his head out of his…um mask), IS still the current Dread Pirate Roberts, who doesn’t leave prisoners and therefore is a killer. Fezzik, and Inigo start off as killer henchmen. Inigo’s entire life is about murderous revenge. In the end they all go on to better lives as they have been touched by love and friend ship. However were they a “force for good”? Yes they stopped the evil of the Prince, and stopping evil IS a good thing, but not one of them was motivated by “Good”. Inigo was there for revenge. Fezzik was motivated by friendship#. Westly was there strictly for Love#. NO ONE was there to stop the prince’s evil plan to create a war. LOVE beats evil. In the process it accidently does some greater good. However “good” does not win the day this time, “love” does.
Well there you have it, my ten thoughts upon (re-re-re-re-) viewing one of the world’s greatest movies. I have to say I think I like the “love conquers evil, so good won’t have too” message, even if it took me over 20 years of re watching (a minimum of twice a year) to put words to it.
“As you wish”
Bradleyman
*-Yes, you Mr. S living in the red woods now, I mean YOU. Any other roommate from the past nope not you.
**- yeah I still have the tape but no way to play it…I once mocked people who did this same thing with * track tapes…I apologize to all of you, caus’ rational or not I’m not letting go of my useless plastic and magnetic tape.
***- Zorro and Batman for the adventure impaired”
#- a type of good but not a “stop the evil monarch” sort of good.
Hi everyone and welcome to Blogging with Bradleyman, I’ll me your host, Brad “Bradleyman” Null.
So before we jump in to the “HAPPY” part of this blog (and my one goal with this particular blog is to try and spread HAPPY to all who want some) a quick note. In my last blog I posted a hate letter, I had received, and a lot of you out there (well a lot for my current audience as I understand it) were apologetic and or concerned. I reported it to Facebook they sent me an automatic e-mail and as long as I never hear from her again, I consider the mater closed. It’s not the worst I have ever got but it did surprise me. It’s not the reason most lunatics choose to hate me for. I do thank everyone for your support and kind thoughts, I really was more amused than upset BUT had I been truly up set it’s nice to know you all were there.
SO now on with the Blog:
I was watching The Princes Bride again few weeks back and I had a series of thoughts about what is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIES. Now before we go on yes I am possibly going to be critical of some of what happens in the movie, if you are a fan to the film and loyal to the point you could be mistaken for a “Twilight Girl” or “Marvel Dude”, then stop reading. No really stop right now! OK, but you were warned and if you respond in any way I may mock you.
My first thought; “This movie ACTULY rocks more in wide screen”. I missed the Film in theatres and I am pretty sure I never saw it in wide screen until this year. It was almost like watching a “NEW AND IMPROVED” version of the film. When you have seen a film as often as I have this one, And I once had a roommate* who watched it weekly and recited the lines from the Nintendo sound effect to grandpa’s “as you wish”, you start to kind of half watch it, the new format caused me to pay attention in a way I haven’t for years (well except for the parts with Fezzik and/ or Inigo) and that led to the rest of these thoughts.
Second thought; “for all her beauty, Buttercup is useless.” She starts out crewel, then becomes demanding, then gives up hope, then in the swamp she nearly gets Westly killed then pokes at R.O.U.S. with a stick while he fights. I have had this thought before and even blogged about so, we will move on.
Third thought; “this movie is SOOOOOOO COOL”. This is more of a constant under-thought to any thought I have while watching this film. I just thought you should be aware that my inner child goes nuts for this like it’s a mid 80’ X-men comic (you know the ones I think are BEST cause’ they came out when I was a kid).
Forth thought; Now I had this thought as Westly was knocked unconscious by the five fingered man. It so upset my being that I had to go back and re watch the timing. (thank you FiOS for letting me, as I no longer have a VHS on which to play my copy**) SO I went back and watched. The quote is “Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.” It’s a quote used by MANY of my friends. They all seem to think it’s a great life philosophy. The quote is often used to justify actions that have caused pain. Now first off using ANY quote from ANY movie as if it is proof of something is questionable at best. Secondly, seconds later, Westly/The man in Black, no longer believes it. The MOMENT he tumbles down that hill saying “As you wish”, which means “I love you” as established earlier by grandpa, he no longer believes that “life is pain”. Furthermore, the point of the movie is that “love conquers all”. The “all” in question includes “pain”. No Italian I know quotes Vizzini’s line about Sicilians and Death, WHY because he dies seconds later, disproving his statement. Seconds later (as if to even suggest that it too might be a false but believed statement) we get the “life is pain” quote. Seconds after that “as you wish”/”I love you” showing he no longer believes.
So to everyone who has ever used the “life is pain” quote to punctuate an argument where I was naive for believing something different; “HEY the entire point of that quote in the movie was that it was WRONG, using it just proves that you are both wrong and ignorant of what you are quoting. If you are provably wrong and ignorant in the use of your “witty pop culture” quote, then why should I trust ANYTHING you say, especially about the nature of what life “IS”? I hope all the people who have done that read this blog that was way too much to rewrite and repeat too often.
Fifth thought; “as long as we have rewind let’s watch the full screen version of the sword fight on the cliffs. THAT’S so COOL.” (repeat 5 or 6 times until you start trying to argue with yourself as to which is better this sword fight or the one in the Blacksmiths shop in the first Pirates of the Caribbean, cliffs win this week but I am fickle)
Sixth thought; “Billy Crystal is the funniest part of this…..OH wait second Carol Cain as “HIS WIFE!!, but I don’t even want to be that any more” may beat him…EH the characters are married will call it a tie.” ‘Nuff said.
Seventh thought; “Yeah why didn’t you count the wheelbarrow as an asset” The cloak I understand, but a wheelbarrow is useful in the construction of a ramming device at the very least. You don’t have to be MR. “I am descended from Ulysses and my ancestors will be The Fox and The Bat” ***to know that.
Eighth thought; “hello, my name is….OH dear gods it’s stuck in my head again!!!!” I love the Inigo/ five finger man fight. Watching Inigo come back to life to finish the “son of a bitch” who took his father is one of the greatest moments in film. That said, once I watch the move, for weeks, sometimes mouths EVERY time someone says “hello” the quote (you know the one) finishes it’s self in my head. If anyone else has this problem let me know, if not I may need to seek therapy.
Ninth thought; (upon viewing the “to the pain” moment and in reference to my forth thought) “See the movie admits there is pain, the threat of it can even help love win”. This was me in my head still arguing with all of those who think my happy outlook is naive. (which by the by is counterproductive to the whole “happy” thing, and is totally my bad as it’s all in my head—sigh--) This thought is mostly redundant, and I wouldn’t even mention it, if it hadn’t of led to my next thought.
Tenth thought; (after having thought nine while watching Westly offer the “Dread Pirate Roberts” identity to Inigo) “Hey wait, this may be a ‘love conquers all’ movie but this is NOT a good defeats evil movie.” That’s right, there are no real “good guys” in this movie. Buttercup is pretty and loving, AFTER being love changed her from the crewel girl she was in the beginning and changed or not she is WORTHLES in the fire swamps and a whiner every second she is not in Westley’s presence. Westly, while the champion for love (once he pulls his head out of his…um mask), IS still the current Dread Pirate Roberts, who doesn’t leave prisoners and therefore is a killer. Fezzik, and Inigo start off as killer henchmen. Inigo’s entire life is about murderous revenge. In the end they all go on to better lives as they have been touched by love and friend ship. However were they a “force for good”? Yes they stopped the evil of the Prince, and stopping evil IS a good thing, but not one of them was motivated by “Good”. Inigo was there for revenge. Fezzik was motivated by friendship#. Westly was there strictly for Love#. NO ONE was there to stop the prince’s evil plan to create a war. LOVE beats evil. In the process it accidently does some greater good. However “good” does not win the day this time, “love” does.
Well there you have it, my ten thoughts upon (re-re-re-re-) viewing one of the world’s greatest movies. I have to say I think I like the “love conquers evil, so good won’t have too” message, even if it took me over 20 years of re watching (a minimum of twice a year) to put words to it.
“As you wish”
Bradleyman
*-Yes, you Mr. S living in the red woods now, I mean YOU. Any other roommate from the past nope not you.
**- yeah I still have the tape but no way to play it…I once mocked people who did this same thing with * track tapes…I apologize to all of you, caus’ rational or not I’m not letting go of my useless plastic and magnetic tape.
***- Zorro and Batman for the adventure impaired”
#- a type of good but not a “stop the evil monarch” sort of good.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Our Age
July 3, 2009
Well I was going to wait till the 12th of July to post anything. I figured it would be a full month from when I turned 40 and two days after my lady turned old enough to drink. Now for those who don’t know, this is not a case of me robbing the cradle this is a case of the cradle robbing me. I pushed her away for two years when she was too young, and then when she turned 18, I agreed to one date. My honest thought at the time was she would get board and I would have an interesting 6 to 8 months.
So, why the “early” blog with the sweet, beautiful, story of how me and my lady got together? Well, apparently large numbers of people have an issue with the age difference. Now I am not surprised by this, heck when we got together I had issues with the age difference. I am (do the math) old enough to be her dad and that is a bit odd. We did work through it and now it’s just one of the quirks of our relationship. I have never know a relationship to not have some weird quirk, ours is just more obvious. So no I am not surprised that people have issues with this, but sometimes the actual issues surprise me, when they are presented to me.
I say “presented” because I get reaction both in the real world and on the web, so it comes both verbally and written. I also say “presented” because the more intense ones work up what can only be called a “presentation”, it two of these reactions, both of which happened within the last two weeks, that inspired me to post this. A quick disclaimer, most people have a reaction of somewhere between “good for you” and “weird but not my relationship”, and most who have issues are polite IF they bring it up, and are often genuinely concerned for one of us over an “age myth” that they believe. The following two reactions are not of that polite level.
The first comes from Facebook. If you are reading this there is a better than average chance you are reading it ON Facebook or are at least familiar with the site. In case you are not, it’s a social networking site, and your relationship line links to your significant other. Our age must be available somehow (it doesn’t seem obvious to me as I quick glance at my profile BUT) as a user, who is not on my friends list, and who’s name I won’t use on the off chance they are sue happy or nuts, left me the following:
“Dear Pedophile for Satan,
How dare you corrupt a child like that? Your relationship is condemned by Christ. You will be suffer for all eternity for rapeing that child and ruining her for a good man. You probably support the gays. You are a vile piece of child molesting crap. I hope she wises up and leaves you before you kill her for Satan. I hate you as Christ orders us to hate all demon worshipers.
In loving Christ’s name,”
I was saving this for a “crazy hate mail” blog, but I don’t get enough hate mail to justify that. I have never seen this level of “false Christian” outside of a forum somehow about religion. So let’s take this a step at a time.
1) Pedophile for Satan: OK, first of all, pet peeve, just because I don’t worship in your fashion does NOT mean I am a Satanist or in any other way “for Satan”. Second, “Pedophile”, really? Even IF I had nasty 12 hour sex sessions with her when we first net it would be Ephebophilia at best. Second both me and my lady over 18, so by ANY definition not a Pedophile. Everything I say here applies to the “How dare you corrupt a child like that?” question as well.
2) Your relationship is condemned by Christ: Seriously, Christ?, WHERE? I mean in the Bible where does it say “Do not lie with those not in your age group”, or “let not those of two separate an age come together”. I am relatively sure there is nothing about age differences in the Bible. I know however from my own recent research, that Christ said almost nothing about marriage. So it might (but I doubt it) be in the Bible, but Christ didn’t say it. So it is not Christ doing the condemning.
3). you will be suffer for all eternity for rapeing that child and ruining her for a good man: Well the grammar is so bad here that even non-grammar Nazi, me has to point it out. The accusation of “rape” is the first thing that made me decide to report this person to the Facebook powers that be. It is not a word to be thrown around lightly in my opinion. To even suggest it IS HATEFUL. Then to suggest that victims of rape are “ruined” is offensive as well. I HATE the “you are a ruined slut cause you didn’t fight hard enough” mentality and that is what we have here. I may not be a “good man” but at least I don’t backhandedly blame the victims of the crimes I cheapen by falsely accusing people of them.
4) You probably support the gays: Yes I do, And…?
5) You are a vile piece of child molesting crap: see point one.
6) I hope she wises up and leaves you before you kill her for Satan: Ok first half I get, you don’t approve and want her to leave me. However “KILL HER FOR SATAN”??????? WTF, leaving aside my pet peeve from 1 above, how did I become a potential murderer?
7) I hate you as Christ orders us to hate all demon worshipers: Ok seeing as how this little e-mail didn’t mention Jesus but only Christ, is it possible our author means some Christ other then Jesus. I only ask because to my knowledge, Jesus was really big on NOT HATEING any one. The fact that I don’t worship any demons is secondary here, pet peeve or not. I have recently been reading the Bible, and Jesus Christ, (regardless of weather you view him as Savior of character in a bestselling novel) was opposed to hate. He never did ask for hate, and never would.
8) In loving Christ’s name: This was in NO ONE’S “loving name”
Now I want it to be clear here. I DO NOT consider this person a Christian. I think they are crazy person who believes the stuff they make up, in his case about what the Bible says. This person obviously doesn’t know what’s in the Bible, or is using some weird Bible in which a Christ (who may or may not be Jesus) thinks hating is cool.
So to move on to the second “presentation”, this one happened in real life, and there was beer involved, so we are relying on my memory of the event. Let me assure you before we start, this one is far more fun and amusing then the last.
The setting: The garage of the guy (friend of friend) who I am talking too, after one “chugged for speed” beer and for me an additional half a beer. I had got there late so I was WAY behind:
ME: < Rambling about Ren. Faire and good beer and being a smartass> Blah Blah…My lady can’t drink yet so she drives. It convenient like that
Him: Dude your chick is underage, isn’t that illegal?
Me: Ummmm no she’s over 18.
Him: Well the girls on the internet have to be 21 or the police will get you for child porn.
Me: The age of consent in Ca. is 18, it’s legal.
Him: you mean you can DO them before you can get them drunk? (As a joke) I can’t seem to get a woman without getting her drunk first, so how would that work for me?
Me: (laughing) Yeah I can see your problem.
Him: So are her friends hot too?
Me: ummmm well I suppose, we have a lot of mutual friends from Ren.Faire, so
Him: No I mean like hot friends, her age you could have threesomes with; Girls her age are ALL in to that.
Me: (trying not to make a comment about how he just said he thought was Illegal so how would he know) I don’t think she has any friends like that, She’s not in to that sort of thing.
Him: So you guy don’t…. (I forget the phrase he used, but it was too good to replace so put your favorite term for sex here)
Me: Uh yeah but…just us.
Him: really?? I thought girls that age who put out were ALL in to group stuff?
Me…
And then I changed the subject.
Now that’s not exact but it’s really close. The term “child porn” is a quote, as is the last statement by him. The rest is pulled from a buzzed memory so may be off, but not by much. Also to be fair, he was slurring his words in a fashion that suggested he had consumed far more beer then I had.
So yeah, that my pair of “age caused weirdness” stories. If they hadn’t of happened so close together I would have let it slide, but two like that in two weeks…MY readers must know. Just to be clear these are extreme reactions, not typical. Most people could care less about the age difference. I just thought I would share some themed madness while both stories were fresh.
Bradleyman
Well I was going to wait till the 12th of July to post anything. I figured it would be a full month from when I turned 40 and two days after my lady turned old enough to drink. Now for those who don’t know, this is not a case of me robbing the cradle this is a case of the cradle robbing me. I pushed her away for two years when she was too young, and then when she turned 18, I agreed to one date. My honest thought at the time was she would get board and I would have an interesting 6 to 8 months.
So, why the “early” blog with the sweet, beautiful, story of how me and my lady got together? Well, apparently large numbers of people have an issue with the age difference. Now I am not surprised by this, heck when we got together I had issues with the age difference. I am (do the math) old enough to be her dad and that is a bit odd. We did work through it and now it’s just one of the quirks of our relationship. I have never know a relationship to not have some weird quirk, ours is just more obvious. So no I am not surprised that people have issues with this, but sometimes the actual issues surprise me, when they are presented to me.
I say “presented” because I get reaction both in the real world and on the web, so it comes both verbally and written. I also say “presented” because the more intense ones work up what can only be called a “presentation”, it two of these reactions, both of which happened within the last two weeks, that inspired me to post this. A quick disclaimer, most people have a reaction of somewhere between “good for you” and “weird but not my relationship”, and most who have issues are polite IF they bring it up, and are often genuinely concerned for one of us over an “age myth” that they believe. The following two reactions are not of that polite level.
The first comes from Facebook. If you are reading this there is a better than average chance you are reading it ON Facebook or are at least familiar with the site. In case you are not, it’s a social networking site, and your relationship line links to your significant other. Our age must be available somehow (it doesn’t seem obvious to me as I quick glance at my profile BUT) as a user, who is not on my friends list, and who’s name I won’t use on the off chance they are sue happy or nuts, left me the following:
“Dear Pedophile for Satan,
How dare you corrupt a child like that? Your relationship is condemned by Christ. You will be suffer for all eternity for rapeing that child and ruining her for a good man. You probably support the gays. You are a vile piece of child molesting crap. I hope she wises up and leaves you before you kill her for Satan. I hate you as Christ orders us to hate all demon worshipers.
In loving Christ’s name,”
I was saving this for a “crazy hate mail” blog, but I don’t get enough hate mail to justify that. I have never seen this level of “false Christian” outside of a forum somehow about religion. So let’s take this a step at a time.
1) Pedophile for Satan: OK, first of all, pet peeve, just because I don’t worship in your fashion does NOT mean I am a Satanist or in any other way “for Satan”. Second, “Pedophile”, really? Even IF I had nasty 12 hour sex sessions with her when we first net it would be Ephebophilia at best. Second both me and my lady over 18, so by ANY definition not a Pedophile. Everything I say here applies to the “How dare you corrupt a child like that?” question as well.
2) Your relationship is condemned by Christ: Seriously, Christ?, WHERE? I mean in the Bible where does it say “Do not lie with those not in your age group”, or “let not those of two separate an age come together”. I am relatively sure there is nothing about age differences in the Bible. I know however from my own recent research, that Christ said almost nothing about marriage. So it might (but I doubt it) be in the Bible, but Christ didn’t say it. So it is not Christ doing the condemning.
3). you will be suffer for all eternity for rapeing that child and ruining her for a good man: Well the grammar is so bad here that even non-grammar Nazi, me has to point it out. The accusation of “rape” is the first thing that made me decide to report this person to the Facebook powers that be. It is not a word to be thrown around lightly in my opinion. To even suggest it IS HATEFUL. Then to suggest that victims of rape are “ruined” is offensive as well. I HATE the “you are a ruined slut cause you didn’t fight hard enough” mentality and that is what we have here. I may not be a “good man” but at least I don’t backhandedly blame the victims of the crimes I cheapen by falsely accusing people of them.
4) You probably support the gays: Yes I do, And…?
5) You are a vile piece of child molesting crap: see point one.
6) I hope she wises up and leaves you before you kill her for Satan: Ok first half I get, you don’t approve and want her to leave me. However “KILL HER FOR SATAN”??????? WTF, leaving aside my pet peeve from 1 above, how did I become a potential murderer?
7) I hate you as Christ orders us to hate all demon worshipers: Ok seeing as how this little e-mail didn’t mention Jesus but only Christ, is it possible our author means some Christ other then Jesus. I only ask because to my knowledge, Jesus was really big on NOT HATEING any one. The fact that I don’t worship any demons is secondary here, pet peeve or not. I have recently been reading the Bible, and Jesus Christ, (regardless of weather you view him as Savior of character in a bestselling novel) was opposed to hate. He never did ask for hate, and never would.
8) In loving Christ’s name: This was in NO ONE’S “loving name”
Now I want it to be clear here. I DO NOT consider this person a Christian. I think they are crazy person who believes the stuff they make up, in his case about what the Bible says. This person obviously doesn’t know what’s in the Bible, or is using some weird Bible in which a Christ (who may or may not be Jesus) thinks hating is cool.
So to move on to the second “presentation”, this one happened in real life, and there was beer involved, so we are relying on my memory of the event. Let me assure you before we start, this one is far more fun and amusing then the last.
The setting: The garage of the guy (friend of friend) who I am talking too, after one “chugged for speed” beer and for me an additional half a beer. I had got there late so I was WAY behind:
ME: < Rambling about Ren. Faire and good beer and being a smartass> Blah Blah…My lady can’t drink yet so she drives. It convenient like that
Him: Dude your chick is underage, isn’t that illegal?
Me: Ummmm no she’s over 18.
Him: Well the girls on the internet have to be 21 or the police will get you for child porn.
Me: The age of consent in Ca. is 18, it’s legal.
Him: you mean you can DO them before you can get them drunk? (As a joke) I can’t seem to get a woman without getting her drunk first, so how would that work for me?
Me: (laughing) Yeah I can see your problem.
Him: So are her friends hot too?
Me: ummmm well I suppose, we have a lot of mutual friends from Ren.Faire, so
Him: No I mean like hot friends, her age you could have threesomes with; Girls her age are ALL in to that.
Me: (trying not to make a comment about how he just said he thought was Illegal so how would he know) I don’t think she has any friends like that, She’s not in to that sort of thing.
Him: So you guy don’t…. (I forget the phrase he used, but it was too good to replace so put your favorite term for sex here)
Me: Uh yeah but…just us.
Him: really?? I thought girls that age who put out were ALL in to group stuff?
Me…
And then I changed the subject.
Now that’s not exact but it’s really close. The term “child porn” is a quote, as is the last statement by him. The rest is pulled from a buzzed memory so may be off, but not by much. Also to be fair, he was slurring his words in a fashion that suggested he had consumed far more beer then I had.
So yeah, that my pair of “age caused weirdness” stories. If they hadn’t of happened so close together I would have let it slide, but two like that in two weeks…MY readers must know. Just to be clear these are extreme reactions, not typical. Most people could care less about the age difference. I just thought I would share some themed madness while both stories were fresh.
Bradleyman
Monday, June 1, 2009
pre 40 - 25
Ok,
I have been writing fiction not blogs recently. I really meant to Blog more but I also knew Ren. Faire would slow me down. I didn’t know writing fiction would stop me completely but I am not horribly upset. I originally started this blogging thing as a way to get ideas out there so they would stop stealing my focus while writing. However since then I told myself I would blog a minimum of once a week. So good news, I am writing what I want to be more, bad news I let it get in the way of the blog. So as I plan to work on fiction and continue doing Kronaburg Faire for the next two weeks I am not only making excuses for the past two months I am making excuse for the next two weeks as well. This means my next blog will be AFTER my 40th Birthday (June 12). I
Now before I turn that magical 4 decade age I have a few comments I would like to get out there and as I am running out of time I need to do so quickly. Doing so quickly means I a) I have not done all the research I would like to have done, in some cases, b) I won’t be taking the time to go in to great detail and c) I will be jumping all over the place. For ease of response I will number them. I will make a statement or ask a question, explain it with a few words then move on. If the first sentence is not something that interests you then move to the next number. If you agree with it say so and why, if you disagree say so and why. One last thing, some of what follows will be me voicing my personal frustrations this may offend you as I will be making blanket statements. If are a part of any group that I mention but are not a part of that group witch behaves as I mention then either agree it’s a problem with your group, or tell me why I am wrong. In cases like that I may be trying but failing to understand something so you may be able to help.
1) Why do sports fans think they are anything other than geeks?
I have had my manhood called in to question by sports geeks in my life. Why? Apparently because it is more “manly” to have your pointless hobbies be watching sports, then to read comic books. Look in the long run niter of our “heroes” are real heroes mine aren’t real, and yours are only out for fame and money making them not real heroes. If “manly” means supporting real heroes, we both fail. If “manly” means getting laid, comics fans with wives put down the books for sex, according to the wives I have talked to, sports widows complain about not getting any. (I use the married because the single guys of both groups have a tendency toward FAT). Now I am in no way saying comic fans are any better, I just don’t think we are any worse.
2) Why is pot still Illegal?
Prohibition has FAILED with weed like it did with booze. Here in Ca. we could put a HUGE dent in the budget if we were just allowed to tax our #1 cash crop. The stuff is far less dangerous then beer (just beer, without counting any other alcoholic drink). Over half the USA thinks it should be legal. Also we can make better quality paper and cloth for far less money and with less harmful chemicals if we use hemp.
3) Atheism is NOT supported by science.
I have had this debate with a lot of Atheists, who try to claim that reason backs their side of whatever argument we are having. It doesn’t. A proper scientist would be Agnostic. The existence of a creator or creative force cannot currently be proven or disproven by science. That is also the position of the Agnostic. The disbelief of the Atheist is no more (or less) provable then the beliefs of any other religion.
4) How did the make Star Trek true to the original yet still Better?
I loved the film. I would say more but the parts I loved are all tied in with stuff that would be conserved spoiler stuff. They follow ALL the rules of the series but make it both new and better. I want to know how so I can do it.
5) Christians in the USA need to start showing respect to people of other faiths.
In this country we have both freedom of speech and freedom of religion. With that combination things can and will get heated. I am not saying you have to agree with everyone’s faith. However Christians in this country have a tendency to talk to non Christians as if they are insane, or stupid. This is offensive. US Christians need to treat other people’s beliefs with more respect. It makes you a better US citizen because it brings us together as a nation. It makes you a better Christian because it promotes tolerance the way Christ asked his followers too and it allows you to “show by example” to people who like you rather then people that you have offended so they are ignoring you now.
6) That said non-Christians need to cut the Christians a break.
This is particularly aimed at the “pagan” community, but I have seen it elsewhere. I know that a lot of angry confused people who call themselves Christian have said mean stuff about you. I know it seems like ALL the Christians hate you when none of them condemn the BS that those confused few say. If you forget that the people in the “first church of getting Christ right” not only are not the same as the “first church of losers who use Christ’s name for votes and cash” but are as opposed to them as you are then you are losing a TON of support for your fight against said ignorance.
(There is a third issue that is where these last two collide. It however is far too large for this quickie session)
7) Geoff Johns is the greatest comic writer ever.
Ok, this is for quality and quantity both of which he seems too able to do wonderfully. I like others but he has yet to let me down, unless you count dropping to “just above average” a disappointment. He even makes plots that sound ridiculous to my head before I read them REALY REALY cool. He made me love the JSA which was easy. Then he made me love Hal, which I was predisposed NOT to do. Furthermore he made me love Hal in one of those “ridiculous” plots. This man can write comics like no man can.
8) As I write this my religion is _______
That’s right one of the things I am looking at is my choice of religion. In my 40 years I spent 10 as too young, 10 as a Christian, 10 as a Wiccan, and 10 as a pagan with huge amounts of influence from the last two. As I am looking about I am none of the above. The best label I have is Deist which is what my favorite founding father was.
9) I am a &*#$%ing independent.
Yes, my views on marriage are Liberal. Yes, my views on gun control are conservative. If I haven’t stated my stance on an issue do not assume you know where I stand. I have switched my support in the past based on who treated me better. Right now if you are part of either major party you are a supporting a broken system. The Republicans FAILED this country for the last 8 years beyond any good they did prior. The Democrats (under Clinton) opened the door for them to do it and then sat on their hands for 2 years while things got worse “waiting for the election”. I do not support the flailed or the failing and in this two party system those are the choices you have.
10) “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”
This is a lie. Good intentions MAY lead to hell, but it is NOT the only road. I have seen this phrase used to justify NOT doing things to help people. Is planning to steal large amount of money a road to hell? According to the Bible (the source of the word and definition of “hell”) yes it is. Is planning to steal a “good” intention? NO. So this statement is disproved because of it use of the word “the”. If you are not acting on your “good intentions” you are also according to the Bible (which this phrase DOES NOT come from) a failure as both A Christian and a Jew. I have been reading both testaments not acting on good intentions is NOT being a good member of either faith according to the very book you base your beliefs on.
11) Gay Marriage
I still say marriage is a matter of Church and Civil union a matter of state. You may limit ANYTHING including race, eye color and hair cut in terms of your limits within your church BUT you have NO RIGHT to force you religious objections on me, which is what you do when you say I as a Rev. am limited in who I can bring together. I also have YET to find or be shown where in the Bible Christ or any or the Apostles said ANYTHING about marriage being “one man one woman”. Until this changes all of you who say that “one man one woman” is a Christian point of view, are assumed to be ignorant of you bible or liars. I do not apologize if that offends as your putting false hatred in to the loving mouth of your savior is conserved to be blasphemous by true Christians, and I see no reason to respect the religion of a person who does not truly respect it themselves.
12) I need to lighten up.
Looking at what I have so far there is some heavy stuff for a “quickie” blog. I think I may be taking myself too seriously. I mean these are serious times. I am seriously looking at a lot of my life as I approach (to the point of nearly being) 40. However my smile, wit and ability to take it all with humor are my main survival tactics. The first and last, on that list, demand less seriousness.
13) –Skipped for superstitious reasons—
14) I love my Lady.
This is a simple fact. We are happy together. She is beautiful and strong, but not mean. Just figured while I was saying stuff that the most important things get heard too.
15) We should tell the people we love that “we love them”
This was completely inspired by my need to do so above. If you love someone tell them, if it seems mushy then apologize for mushy and tell them. If you “just can’t” then they will not know and that would be sad.
16) Both Christ and the Buddha agree with me on 15
17) Is interfering with love an act of hate?
I was recently told “interfering with love is an act of hate”. It was in reference to Gay marriage and how the gay side feels about the actions of the anti gay side. While I support gay marriage I think this statement may be off. So I just thought would put this question out there in more general term to see what people think.
18) Dick Chaney
As long as this man is associated with the Republican Party they will treated like the scum he is. I am disgusted that people show him ANY respect. He broke his oath of office and committed treason to get revenge on a CIA agent who told the truth about why we shouldn’t start a war in Iraq. Once we were in Iraq only HIS Company got contracts. He thinks water boarding is ok. Those are three facts that make him a traitor, a war profiteer, and pro-torture. As long as the Republicans count this man as a member they will be as American as he is. He is an enemy to this country and no matter how confused, big government, or tax happy the Democrats may be your defense of the Dick proves you care more about your party then you do about the country. Kick him out, condemn his actions or admit you don’t give a $#!& about the men and women who his lies sent to death. Hey if you defend him you are also defending a pro-war, pro-torture money changer and are every bit as Christian as that suggests. If your church claims to be Christian but supports this man (and maybe even his party) they are false Christians.
19) It should be remembered that they Republicans do have good ideas so that when they get rid of the above we can start paying attention again.
There are good points about the Republican Party, and not all that they stand for is icky. Having got the Chaney thing off my chest I think it only fair to point out that while they have problems accepting change, this is often good in opposition to “change for changes sake” that seems to happen over a the Democrats side of things. Also the Republicans are better at the whole budgeting thing. While I may not always agree on the priorities they do bring things in cheaper and with fewer taxes.
20) The Democrats dropped the ball for two years and should be called on it.
TWO YEARS, they controlled congress. During that quarter of Bush’s presidency they did NOTHING. If we want to blame the state out nation is in on the Bush years (an oversimplification for speeds sake) they as a congress are responsible for ¼ of it. A lack of action that causes damage is the same as an action that causes damage in this case. It is why the "two party" system is a failure; it forces us to chose between those who meant to hurt us and those who will any way.
21) Only Jack Kirby could think a purple magnet hat would make a devourer of worlds look scary.
Then again Galatus eats worlds so I suppose he could look like blue bunny and be a frightening.
22) Everyone should go to a Renaissance Faire at least once.
Well or some other attempt a historical recreation. It’s fun and educational. It also keeps a lot of my friends in business if you go.
23) How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
I know the answer. Do you?
24) What do you do with a Drunken Sailor?
What do you do with a drunken sailor? Early in the morning?
25) I have made a prediction about this blog.
If enough people respond to question 25 with “WHAT IS IT” (or an amusing variation thereof) I will blog it. I promise to not change it, and I will also admit to being wrong or gloat about being right. The first is what I expect the latter would be nice.
So there you have it my last pre 40 blog see you in two weeks. I am planning to go weekly but until I can for a solid month I am not going to claim it’s actually going to happen.
Peace and Goldfish Crackers
Bradleyman
I have been writing fiction not blogs recently. I really meant to Blog more but I also knew Ren. Faire would slow me down. I didn’t know writing fiction would stop me completely but I am not horribly upset. I originally started this blogging thing as a way to get ideas out there so they would stop stealing my focus while writing. However since then I told myself I would blog a minimum of once a week. So good news, I am writing what I want to be more, bad news I let it get in the way of the blog. So as I plan to work on fiction and continue doing Kronaburg Faire for the next two weeks I am not only making excuses for the past two months I am making excuse for the next two weeks as well. This means my next blog will be AFTER my 40th Birthday (June 12). I
Now before I turn that magical 4 decade age I have a few comments I would like to get out there and as I am running out of time I need to do so quickly. Doing so quickly means I a) I have not done all the research I would like to have done, in some cases, b) I won’t be taking the time to go in to great detail and c) I will be jumping all over the place. For ease of response I will number them. I will make a statement or ask a question, explain it with a few words then move on. If the first sentence is not something that interests you then move to the next number. If you agree with it say so and why, if you disagree say so and why. One last thing, some of what follows will be me voicing my personal frustrations this may offend you as I will be making blanket statements. If are a part of any group that I mention but are not a part of that group witch behaves as I mention then either agree it’s a problem with your group, or tell me why I am wrong. In cases like that I may be trying but failing to understand something so you may be able to help.
1) Why do sports fans think they are anything other than geeks?
I have had my manhood called in to question by sports geeks in my life. Why? Apparently because it is more “manly” to have your pointless hobbies be watching sports, then to read comic books. Look in the long run niter of our “heroes” are real heroes mine aren’t real, and yours are only out for fame and money making them not real heroes. If “manly” means supporting real heroes, we both fail. If “manly” means getting laid, comics fans with wives put down the books for sex, according to the wives I have talked to, sports widows complain about not getting any. (I use the married because the single guys of both groups have a tendency toward FAT). Now I am in no way saying comic fans are any better, I just don’t think we are any worse.
2) Why is pot still Illegal?
Prohibition has FAILED with weed like it did with booze. Here in Ca. we could put a HUGE dent in the budget if we were just allowed to tax our #1 cash crop. The stuff is far less dangerous then beer (just beer, without counting any other alcoholic drink). Over half the USA thinks it should be legal. Also we can make better quality paper and cloth for far less money and with less harmful chemicals if we use hemp.
3) Atheism is NOT supported by science.
I have had this debate with a lot of Atheists, who try to claim that reason backs their side of whatever argument we are having. It doesn’t. A proper scientist would be Agnostic. The existence of a creator or creative force cannot currently be proven or disproven by science. That is also the position of the Agnostic. The disbelief of the Atheist is no more (or less) provable then the beliefs of any other religion.
4) How did the make Star Trek true to the original yet still Better?
I loved the film. I would say more but the parts I loved are all tied in with stuff that would be conserved spoiler stuff. They follow ALL the rules of the series but make it both new and better. I want to know how so I can do it.
5) Christians in the USA need to start showing respect to people of other faiths.
In this country we have both freedom of speech and freedom of religion. With that combination things can and will get heated. I am not saying you have to agree with everyone’s faith. However Christians in this country have a tendency to talk to non Christians as if they are insane, or stupid. This is offensive. US Christians need to treat other people’s beliefs with more respect. It makes you a better US citizen because it brings us together as a nation. It makes you a better Christian because it promotes tolerance the way Christ asked his followers too and it allows you to “show by example” to people who like you rather then people that you have offended so they are ignoring you now.
6) That said non-Christians need to cut the Christians a break.
This is particularly aimed at the “pagan” community, but I have seen it elsewhere. I know that a lot of angry confused people who call themselves Christian have said mean stuff about you. I know it seems like ALL the Christians hate you when none of them condemn the BS that those confused few say. If you forget that the people in the “first church of getting Christ right” not only are not the same as the “first church of losers who use Christ’s name for votes and cash” but are as opposed to them as you are then you are losing a TON of support for your fight against said ignorance.
(There is a third issue that is where these last two collide. It however is far too large for this quickie session)
7) Geoff Johns is the greatest comic writer ever.
Ok, this is for quality and quantity both of which he seems too able to do wonderfully. I like others but he has yet to let me down, unless you count dropping to “just above average” a disappointment. He even makes plots that sound ridiculous to my head before I read them REALY REALY cool. He made me love the JSA which was easy. Then he made me love Hal, which I was predisposed NOT to do. Furthermore he made me love Hal in one of those “ridiculous” plots. This man can write comics like no man can.
8) As I write this my religion is _______
That’s right one of the things I am looking at is my choice of religion. In my 40 years I spent 10 as too young, 10 as a Christian, 10 as a Wiccan, and 10 as a pagan with huge amounts of influence from the last two. As I am looking about I am none of the above. The best label I have is Deist which is what my favorite founding father was.
9) I am a &*#$%ing independent.
Yes, my views on marriage are Liberal. Yes, my views on gun control are conservative. If I haven’t stated my stance on an issue do not assume you know where I stand. I have switched my support in the past based on who treated me better. Right now if you are part of either major party you are a supporting a broken system. The Republicans FAILED this country for the last 8 years beyond any good they did prior. The Democrats (under Clinton) opened the door for them to do it and then sat on their hands for 2 years while things got worse “waiting for the election”. I do not support the flailed or the failing and in this two party system those are the choices you have.
10) “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”
This is a lie. Good intentions MAY lead to hell, but it is NOT the only road. I have seen this phrase used to justify NOT doing things to help people. Is planning to steal large amount of money a road to hell? According to the Bible (the source of the word and definition of “hell”) yes it is. Is planning to steal a “good” intention? NO. So this statement is disproved because of it use of the word “the”. If you are not acting on your “good intentions” you are also according to the Bible (which this phrase DOES NOT come from) a failure as both A Christian and a Jew. I have been reading both testaments not acting on good intentions is NOT being a good member of either faith according to the very book you base your beliefs on.
11) Gay Marriage
I still say marriage is a matter of Church and Civil union a matter of state. You may limit ANYTHING including race, eye color and hair cut in terms of your limits within your church BUT you have NO RIGHT to force you religious objections on me, which is what you do when you say I as a Rev. am limited in who I can bring together. I also have YET to find or be shown where in the Bible Christ or any or the Apostles said ANYTHING about marriage being “one man one woman”. Until this changes all of you who say that “one man one woman” is a Christian point of view, are assumed to be ignorant of you bible or liars. I do not apologize if that offends as your putting false hatred in to the loving mouth of your savior is conserved to be blasphemous by true Christians, and I see no reason to respect the religion of a person who does not truly respect it themselves.
12) I need to lighten up.
Looking at what I have so far there is some heavy stuff for a “quickie” blog. I think I may be taking myself too seriously. I mean these are serious times. I am seriously looking at a lot of my life as I approach (to the point of nearly being) 40. However my smile, wit and ability to take it all with humor are my main survival tactics. The first and last, on that list, demand less seriousness.
13) –Skipped for superstitious reasons—
14) I love my Lady.
This is a simple fact. We are happy together. She is beautiful and strong, but not mean. Just figured while I was saying stuff that the most important things get heard too.
15) We should tell the people we love that “we love them”
This was completely inspired by my need to do so above. If you love someone tell them, if it seems mushy then apologize for mushy and tell them. If you “just can’t” then they will not know and that would be sad.
16) Both Christ and the Buddha agree with me on 15
17) Is interfering with love an act of hate?
I was recently told “interfering with love is an act of hate”. It was in reference to Gay marriage and how the gay side feels about the actions of the anti gay side. While I support gay marriage I think this statement may be off. So I just thought would put this question out there in more general term to see what people think.
18) Dick Chaney
As long as this man is associated with the Republican Party they will treated like the scum he is. I am disgusted that people show him ANY respect. He broke his oath of office and committed treason to get revenge on a CIA agent who told the truth about why we shouldn’t start a war in Iraq. Once we were in Iraq only HIS Company got contracts. He thinks water boarding is ok. Those are three facts that make him a traitor, a war profiteer, and pro-torture. As long as the Republicans count this man as a member they will be as American as he is. He is an enemy to this country and no matter how confused, big government, or tax happy the Democrats may be your defense of the Dick proves you care more about your party then you do about the country. Kick him out, condemn his actions or admit you don’t give a $#!& about the men and women who his lies sent to death. Hey if you defend him you are also defending a pro-war, pro-torture money changer and are every bit as Christian as that suggests. If your church claims to be Christian but supports this man (and maybe even his party) they are false Christians.
19) It should be remembered that they Republicans do have good ideas so that when they get rid of the above we can start paying attention again.
There are good points about the Republican Party, and not all that they stand for is icky. Having got the Chaney thing off my chest I think it only fair to point out that while they have problems accepting change, this is often good in opposition to “change for changes sake” that seems to happen over a the Democrats side of things. Also the Republicans are better at the whole budgeting thing. While I may not always agree on the priorities they do bring things in cheaper and with fewer taxes.
20) The Democrats dropped the ball for two years and should be called on it.
TWO YEARS, they controlled congress. During that quarter of Bush’s presidency they did NOTHING. If we want to blame the state out nation is in on the Bush years (an oversimplification for speeds sake) they as a congress are responsible for ¼ of it. A lack of action that causes damage is the same as an action that causes damage in this case. It is why the "two party" system is a failure; it forces us to chose between those who meant to hurt us and those who will any way.
21) Only Jack Kirby could think a purple magnet hat would make a devourer of worlds look scary.
Then again Galatus eats worlds so I suppose he could look like blue bunny and be a frightening.
22) Everyone should go to a Renaissance Faire at least once.
Well or some other attempt a historical recreation. It’s fun and educational. It also keeps a lot of my friends in business if you go.
23) How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
I know the answer. Do you?
24) What do you do with a Drunken Sailor?
What do you do with a drunken sailor? Early in the morning?
25) I have made a prediction about this blog.
If enough people respond to question 25 with “WHAT IS IT” (or an amusing variation thereof) I will blog it. I promise to not change it, and I will also admit to being wrong or gloat about being right. The first is what I expect the latter would be nice.
So there you have it my last pre 40 blog see you in two weeks. I am planning to go weekly but until I can for a solid month I am not going to claim it’s actually going to happen.
Peace and Goldfish Crackers
Bradleyman
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Weed pot grass
So there is a big push out there to legalize and tax marijuana. The reasons are many fold. “It’s less damaging then alcohol which is legal” and the “tax revenue / lower law enforcement costs profits” arguments seem to be at the top of the list. Google it if you don’t know what I’m talking about, but if you know me then you have probably heard it from me or someone I know. There are lots and lots of reasons to legalize the stuff but there is an argument that is used by D.A.R.E. and it’s like which actually should be an argument for legalization and not one opposed to it.
Before I explain let me just state that there is NO major anti-drug organization that is actually anti drug. They are anti-non prescription drug. D.A.R.E. and its like are funded by prescription drug companies. They WANT you to use drugs, but only the ones they control. They do not care about kids staying off drugs, they in fact want your kids on the anti-“whatever thing they made up to sell you stuff” drugs and they will distort the truth to get it.
So with that mini-rant out of the way let me dissect a statement that the Anti-MJ crowd has used for years. I can feel those of you who were forced to sit through grade school programs wondering which statement that you only half listened too I speak of. The Statement is; “Marijuana is a gateway drug to harder drugs”
Now the “gateway drug” comment has been argued about for years. I have heard both side of this argument. Those who want pot legal say that the numbers show that while this can happen statistically those who use pot as an excuse for harder drugs would have used those drugs any way. Those who want it to stay illegal bring out ex-crack user and ex-heroin user who claim to have started on pot. Well let me state that the “gateway drug” thing does happen at least often enough to create the stories, maybe they are the norm, maybe they are the exception but I have also met these people. Three times in my life I have met people who claimed that pot was a “gateway drug” two were ex-users and one was a really annoying tweeker-meth head who wouldn’t shut up, all claimed to that pot led them to try other drugs.
“Wait a moment here Mr. Bradelyman” I hear you say “doesn’t that mean your own experiences give validation to a reason to keep hemp illegal?”
My answer to that question “No” because I talked to (or was talked at by) all three and I listened. All three had nearly identical stories with the same 4 steps. 1) Try pot 2) realize that pot is not that harmful (they all used a phrase like “not that bad”) 3) decide that if pot is “not that bad” and is illegal then the other illegal drugs are not so bad either 4) tried harder drug and discovered they were addicted to something really nasty. See the problem. Pot was a gateway ONLY because pot was illegal.
See thing is when you say pot is just as bad as crack or meth (which is a LIE), then when someone tries weed and it’s harmless they will assume one of two things; either that you are telling the truth and crack is ok since you said pot and crack were equal OR that you are a liar since weed was OK therefore you lied about meth and it’s ok too. The gate way is caused by treating the harmless like the harmful.
As long as we teach kids the lie that it’s “all the same” they will be hurt by that lie. All it takes is one friend with hippy parents who hold down good jobs (and I know lots of those and so do you) to prove that weed isn’t an instant killer. Once that is proven D.A.R.E. becomes a group of liars. The school that the program was presented in becomes a place where lies were told. The parents if they support it become part of the lie as well. Why should they believe any of you when they know that weed didn’t mess up Tommy’s parents? Now Tommy is going to be OK, his parents tell him he can’t smoke until he is older, and that they would rather he was around them the first time. He knows that speed, crack and heroin are bad because his parents were truthful with about pot so he believes them when they say that stuff is bad. However the kids whose parents support the D.A.R.E. lie have no leg to stand on. He or she is now going to use the “gateway” caused by the lie.
I obviously am arguing from the point of view of someone who supports legal weed. Even if you disagree with me on that, I beg you to stop teaching your kids that it’s “all the same”. It’s not “all the same”. As long as you teach that you are teaching a lie. The lie is what creates the gateway so stop blaming the lesser drug or plant or whatever. Also understand your kid will see through your lies eventually, and then you will be a liar. Good luck getting respect from your teenager once they know you lie to them.
So remember dare to stand up to the gateway D.A.R.E.’s lies create.
Bradelyman
Before I explain let me just state that there is NO major anti-drug organization that is actually anti drug. They are anti-non prescription drug. D.A.R.E. and its like are funded by prescription drug companies. They WANT you to use drugs, but only the ones they control. They do not care about kids staying off drugs, they in fact want your kids on the anti-“whatever thing they made up to sell you stuff” drugs and they will distort the truth to get it.
So with that mini-rant out of the way let me dissect a statement that the Anti-MJ crowd has used for years. I can feel those of you who were forced to sit through grade school programs wondering which statement that you only half listened too I speak of. The Statement is; “Marijuana is a gateway drug to harder drugs”
Now the “gateway drug” comment has been argued about for years. I have heard both side of this argument. Those who want pot legal say that the numbers show that while this can happen statistically those who use pot as an excuse for harder drugs would have used those drugs any way. Those who want it to stay illegal bring out ex-crack user and ex-heroin user who claim to have started on pot. Well let me state that the “gateway drug” thing does happen at least often enough to create the stories, maybe they are the norm, maybe they are the exception but I have also met these people. Three times in my life I have met people who claimed that pot was a “gateway drug” two were ex-users and one was a really annoying tweeker-meth head who wouldn’t shut up, all claimed to that pot led them to try other drugs.
“Wait a moment here Mr. Bradelyman” I hear you say “doesn’t that mean your own experiences give validation to a reason to keep hemp illegal?”
My answer to that question “No” because I talked to (or was talked at by) all three and I listened. All three had nearly identical stories with the same 4 steps. 1) Try pot 2) realize that pot is not that harmful (they all used a phrase like “not that bad”) 3) decide that if pot is “not that bad” and is illegal then the other illegal drugs are not so bad either 4) tried harder drug and discovered they were addicted to something really nasty. See the problem. Pot was a gateway ONLY because pot was illegal.
See thing is when you say pot is just as bad as crack or meth (which is a LIE), then when someone tries weed and it’s harmless they will assume one of two things; either that you are telling the truth and crack is ok since you said pot and crack were equal OR that you are a liar since weed was OK therefore you lied about meth and it’s ok too. The gate way is caused by treating the harmless like the harmful.
As long as we teach kids the lie that it’s “all the same” they will be hurt by that lie. All it takes is one friend with hippy parents who hold down good jobs (and I know lots of those and so do you) to prove that weed isn’t an instant killer. Once that is proven D.A.R.E. becomes a group of liars. The school that the program was presented in becomes a place where lies were told. The parents if they support it become part of the lie as well. Why should they believe any of you when they know that weed didn’t mess up Tommy’s parents? Now Tommy is going to be OK, his parents tell him he can’t smoke until he is older, and that they would rather he was around them the first time. He knows that speed, crack and heroin are bad because his parents were truthful with about pot so he believes them when they say that stuff is bad. However the kids whose parents support the D.A.R.E. lie have no leg to stand on. He or she is now going to use the “gateway” caused by the lie.
I obviously am arguing from the point of view of someone who supports legal weed. Even if you disagree with me on that, I beg you to stop teaching your kids that it’s “all the same”. It’s not “all the same”. As long as you teach that you are teaching a lie. The lie is what creates the gateway so stop blaming the lesser drug or plant or whatever. Also understand your kid will see through your lies eventually, and then you will be a liar. Good luck getting respect from your teenager once they know you lie to them.
So remember dare to stand up to the gateway D.A.R.E.’s lies create.
Bradelyman
Friday, April 10, 2009
Excuses
So I apologize for the lack of blogging to the few of you who read this. My lap top died a slow death that caused MS Word to load painfully slow and I started making excuses rather than blogs. Old comp did a noble thing and blue screened me enough to get a replacement (with dads help, Thanks dad). The trusty thing then let me get the unbaked-up pictures off its hard drive on one last activation. I honor its noble end and wish it a speedy trip to the computer after life of its choice.
The new machine, The Bradcomp, is wonderful. I have spent the last few days making it mine and playing games. Yes it was a colossal waist of time, and it was wonderful. The thing I am most enjoying is the ability to move my comp without losing power. Oldcomp’s battery died about a year ago so it was tied to a wall for use. It was still mobile so I didn’t think I was missing much, I was wrong. Being able to write, play games and plot stories ANYWHERE is really nice.
As cool as all this sounds the one problem is now I have no excuse for a lack of productivity. I could blame the hard time doing on line job searching on a slow machine, or an inability to make the old ting load the web pages in a timely manner. Now if I don’t get any of that done it is quite obviously MY fault not the computer. Word now loads quickly, so I can’t blame my unrecorded ideas on a slow machine. The machine is bight and new and its keys are still shiny so any problem lies with now with me.
“But Brad” I hear the more enlightened of you ask “surely you know that those excuses were false reasoning, and just a way for you to slack”
Yeah, well I do now. I honestly believed my excuse, until they were removed. Then I came up with a dozen reasons why the slow wait was NOT a good excuse. I could have simply shown a bit of patience and discipline. I could have borrowed a different computer, it’s not like MS word is a rare program. What amazed me was once the excuses were gone was how much I believed them. I never even question my actions (well actually lack of action). I am ashamed I let excuse slow me down, but more then that I am amazed at how little I questioned my motives while I allowed it.
The other shock was how emotionally devastated I was when the Oldcomp did the third blues screen of death. I actually nearly cried and had to remove myself to the desert to get control of my emotions. I was shocked at how attached I was to a material object. Once I was over the initial wave of emotion, I was angrier with myself for being that attached to an object. My lovely lady has since pointed out that Oldcomp had been a constant source of information and entertainment for several years and that I was only being human. She is right of course. Part of why we must balance heart with mind. If you are all heart you WILL break down over stuff like this. Being all head in this case wouldn’t be good either, I wouldn’t have been upset but I wouldn’t have properly enjoyed the computer during its “life”.
So out with the noble Oldcomp, in with the new Bradcomp. A process that caused far more self realization then I really think it should have. I am told it shows I am able to learn a life lesson from any situation. I know that’s a good thing, a really good thing even, but sometimes it’s a bit shocking, and just a tiny bit annoying. I wouldn’t stop it from happening, I just want the annoying part noted in a public forum (and now it has been).
Love and dog licks
Bradleyman
The new machine, The Bradcomp, is wonderful. I have spent the last few days making it mine and playing games. Yes it was a colossal waist of time, and it was wonderful. The thing I am most enjoying is the ability to move my comp without losing power. Oldcomp’s battery died about a year ago so it was tied to a wall for use. It was still mobile so I didn’t think I was missing much, I was wrong. Being able to write, play games and plot stories ANYWHERE is really nice.
As cool as all this sounds the one problem is now I have no excuse for a lack of productivity. I could blame the hard time doing on line job searching on a slow machine, or an inability to make the old ting load the web pages in a timely manner. Now if I don’t get any of that done it is quite obviously MY fault not the computer. Word now loads quickly, so I can’t blame my unrecorded ideas on a slow machine. The machine is bight and new and its keys are still shiny so any problem lies with now with me.
“But Brad” I hear the more enlightened of you ask “surely you know that those excuses were false reasoning, and just a way for you to slack”
Yeah, well I do now. I honestly believed my excuse, until they were removed. Then I came up with a dozen reasons why the slow wait was NOT a good excuse. I could have simply shown a bit of patience and discipline. I could have borrowed a different computer, it’s not like MS word is a rare program. What amazed me was once the excuses were gone was how much I believed them. I never even question my actions (well actually lack of action). I am ashamed I let excuse slow me down, but more then that I am amazed at how little I questioned my motives while I allowed it.
The other shock was how emotionally devastated I was when the Oldcomp did the third blues screen of death. I actually nearly cried and had to remove myself to the desert to get control of my emotions. I was shocked at how attached I was to a material object. Once I was over the initial wave of emotion, I was angrier with myself for being that attached to an object. My lovely lady has since pointed out that Oldcomp had been a constant source of information and entertainment for several years and that I was only being human. She is right of course. Part of why we must balance heart with mind. If you are all heart you WILL break down over stuff like this. Being all head in this case wouldn’t be good either, I wouldn’t have been upset but I wouldn’t have properly enjoyed the computer during its “life”.
So out with the noble Oldcomp, in with the new Bradcomp. A process that caused far more self realization then I really think it should have. I am told it shows I am able to learn a life lesson from any situation. I know that’s a good thing, a really good thing even, but sometimes it’s a bit shocking, and just a tiny bit annoying. I wouldn’t stop it from happening, I just want the annoying part noted in a public forum (and now it has been).
Love and dog licks
Bradleyman
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
I Watched, The Watchmen
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am a huge fan of comics and one of my favorite writers is Allan Moore. He refuses to go see ANY movie based on his work. The short reason as I understand it that he is a perfectionist and he feels he didn’t get it perfect so why watch some else get it less prefect. As a fan of his work I at least feel his stories are well worth reading. That said while I do like the movies that have been made from Mr. Moore’s work, they have ALL been altered in ways that were odd. It was less noticeable in From Hell but I actually like the movie better then the comic (a true anomaly for me). V of Vendetta lost a lot of its 80’s politics for “more modern” politics and they introduced a strange romance between the main characters that did not exist in the comics. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is so different from the comic that it would hurt were not both versions so good. The comic is a dark and gritty adventure set at the turn of the 20th century with lots of literary references. The movie is a James Bond with sidekicks adventure set at the turn of the 20th century, with fewer literary references. The distance between the Comic and the Movie is roughly the same as the distance between the Christian Bale Batman and the Adam West Batman. (I like both of those too) So I was understandably concerned about changes when I went to see The Watchmen
The Comic of The Watchmen is also of historical importance for comic fans. It is one of the first and, in my opinion one of, if not the, best comics to show that comics can tell and mature story. It is a serious story with some heavy thought presented with a “superhero murder mystery” as the driving plot. It is a piece of heady literature that proves that comics as a medium deserve some respect. The story is one that will move you and make you think. It IS art. As someone who argues that the comic form can be true literature, I invoke this book often. It is an important work in my opinion. So I was understandably concerned about changes when I went to see The Watchmen
Before we go any further let me take an aside. No mater weather you agree with my assessment of the film or not. Regardless of weather or not you like the film, GO READ THE WATCHMEN GRAPHIC NOVEL! (Yes that is explanation mark level important.) If you have ANY interest in comics, mysteries or just good stories then you should read this as it is all three. The story is incredible and it uses the medium of comics to its fullest. If there is one comic that I think everyone should read it is The Watchmen. So regardless of weather you see the movie or not, regardless of weather you like the movie or not, read the book.
So I when I went to see this movie I was concerned. However I prepped my self by thinking of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and how that had been a fun romp of a film, witch I had enjoyed greatly as a movie even though it had nearly nothing to do with the comic. I went in prepared to see 12 to 30 comic book panels (witch I had seen in previews) brought to life in a story that had little to nothing to do with the comic whose panels they were representing. My concerns were unfounded, the movie was great.
Let me start by saying, there are things you can do in comics you can not do in movies. Way of telling background stories and delivering information and setting tone that are unique to the medium of comics. I could say the same thing about the medium of film. Normally film makes just cut what doesn’t work in their medium. Here they replaced things unique to comics with things unique to film. The same information presented (where the mediums clashed) in different ways. That said Comics and Film also share a lot of visual storytelling tricks, the film kept ALL of those. I heard before seeing this picture that they used the actual comics as the movie storyboards. I have heard this before EVERY comic based movie I have ever watched. This is the first time I actually believe it. The angles of the shots of them matched the comics so closely I saw the page in my minds eye as things happened on the screen. There is also this thing that is done in a lot of Comic book based movies where when they have a visual from the comic they do a brief pause so you can catch it. The Spiderman movies do this and 300 was full of them. I hate that (and I loved the first two Spidy flicks.) The Watchmen used this freeze on the panel thing in the opening moments of action. When The Comedian is killed the action zooms, slows pauses on a panel taken from the comic then zooms again. It worked. It worked really well. It worked so well I nearly lost the next five minuets of film as my brain said: “I just loved something I hate about comic movies” repeatedly in shock. The movie just gets better from there.
It was great. It was long and still had stuff cut from its original material. However I loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the same can be said for all three of those. Like those I feel that this is as close as we are going to get to the source. Also like those I believe everyone should see this.
This IS the comic brought to life. Yes the ending is somewhat changed, but it still works. Yes we are missing some pieces that make the comic great, but most if not all of them were things that you can only do in comics.
Was it perfect? No. Both Silk Specters and Ozymandius put in performances that were sub par. There was also the less subtle way we are told who the second Silk Specters father is. The words “X is your father” are never directly said in the comic, and the clues leading up that are hints not “Hey look over here for the clue” neon signs like we find in the movie. Also many of the costume changes were unnecessary and poor.
Would I recommend it? Yes. It’s a really great film. It is also a very accurate adaptation of a really great comic. So I would recommend it strongly to everyone and doubly strong for comic fans.
In closing just let me say yes I did like it, but READ THE BOOK.
Bradleyman
PS. Extra credit for any one who can tell me which two movies, based on the actors, I am hinting at here
1) Night Owl moves in next to Nick Furry and they have issues with each other.
2) Night Owl tries to seduce an underage Kitty Pryde then things get really weird.
The Comic of The Watchmen is also of historical importance for comic fans. It is one of the first and, in my opinion one of, if not the, best comics to show that comics can tell and mature story. It is a serious story with some heavy thought presented with a “superhero murder mystery” as the driving plot. It is a piece of heady literature that proves that comics as a medium deserve some respect. The story is one that will move you and make you think. It IS art. As someone who argues that the comic form can be true literature, I invoke this book often. It is an important work in my opinion. So I was understandably concerned about changes when I went to see The Watchmen
Before we go any further let me take an aside. No mater weather you agree with my assessment of the film or not. Regardless of weather or not you like the film, GO READ THE WATCHMEN GRAPHIC NOVEL! (Yes that is explanation mark level important.) If you have ANY interest in comics, mysteries or just good stories then you should read this as it is all three. The story is incredible and it uses the medium of comics to its fullest. If there is one comic that I think everyone should read it is The Watchmen. So regardless of weather you see the movie or not, regardless of weather you like the movie or not, read the book.
So I when I went to see this movie I was concerned. However I prepped my self by thinking of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and how that had been a fun romp of a film, witch I had enjoyed greatly as a movie even though it had nearly nothing to do with the comic. I went in prepared to see 12 to 30 comic book panels (witch I had seen in previews) brought to life in a story that had little to nothing to do with the comic whose panels they were representing. My concerns were unfounded, the movie was great.
Let me start by saying, there are things you can do in comics you can not do in movies. Way of telling background stories and delivering information and setting tone that are unique to the medium of comics. I could say the same thing about the medium of film. Normally film makes just cut what doesn’t work in their medium. Here they replaced things unique to comics with things unique to film. The same information presented (where the mediums clashed) in different ways. That said Comics and Film also share a lot of visual storytelling tricks, the film kept ALL of those. I heard before seeing this picture that they used the actual comics as the movie storyboards. I have heard this before EVERY comic based movie I have ever watched. This is the first time I actually believe it. The angles of the shots of them matched the comics so closely I saw the page in my minds eye as things happened on the screen. There is also this thing that is done in a lot of Comic book based movies where when they have a visual from the comic they do a brief pause so you can catch it. The Spiderman movies do this and 300 was full of them. I hate that (and I loved the first two Spidy flicks.) The Watchmen used this freeze on the panel thing in the opening moments of action. When The Comedian is killed the action zooms, slows pauses on a panel taken from the comic then zooms again. It worked. It worked really well. It worked so well I nearly lost the next five minuets of film as my brain said: “I just loved something I hate about comic movies” repeatedly in shock. The movie just gets better from there.
It was great. It was long and still had stuff cut from its original material. However I loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the same can be said for all three of those. Like those I feel that this is as close as we are going to get to the source. Also like those I believe everyone should see this.
This IS the comic brought to life. Yes the ending is somewhat changed, but it still works. Yes we are missing some pieces that make the comic great, but most if not all of them were things that you can only do in comics.
Was it perfect? No. Both Silk Specters and Ozymandius put in performances that were sub par. There was also the less subtle way we are told who the second Silk Specters father is. The words “X is your father” are never directly said in the comic, and the clues leading up that are hints not “Hey look over here for the clue” neon signs like we find in the movie. Also many of the costume changes were unnecessary and poor.
Would I recommend it? Yes. It’s a really great film. It is also a very accurate adaptation of a really great comic. So I would recommend it strongly to everyone and doubly strong for comic fans.
In closing just let me say yes I did like it, but READ THE BOOK.
Bradleyman
PS. Extra credit for any one who can tell me which two movies, based on the actors, I am hinting at here
1) Night Owl moves in next to Nick Furry and they have issues with each other.
2) Night Owl tries to seduce an underage Kitty Pryde then things get really weird.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Happy
So I was told in a response to my last blog that I seemed angry all the time. Then I went back and realized that I have been a bit on the agro side in my non comic book related blogs. SO what to do…write one about what makes me happy, it will probably be boring how ever. I mean who care about the happy stuff.
So what make me happy? Well, let us see.
Let’s start with my lady. I know it seems typical but she truly is the light of my life. Call it cheesy; call it what ever you want I do love her. Yes she is 19 years younger then I am but she still is the only one I want to be with. Best part about her, she wants to be with me. Yeah I love that she gets my geeky comic book jokes. Yes she is hot. It is true that we are “physically compatible”. However the “wanting to be with me” thing tops any list I have.
Next let’s move on to those (some of whom are reading) who I call friend. I hold my friends close even when I lose touch with them. Heck I recently saw a couple of friends that I hadn’t seen since before my lady was born (that would be 20 years ago). Call me crazy I like hanging out with people I feel I can trust. (Yes I have had a few people I called friend turn their back on me. However at the risk of sounding angry, the only one I know for certain did this also started the relationship with his now wife by betraying a friend and his then girlfriend, so I doubt he knows true friendship.) Friends are good to have and I am always glad to help them when I can. Also with enough friends you can throw a party and those are always fun.
I am glad to have the family that I do, the people who have to help you and whom you have to help. There is very little I can say about family that hasn’t been said better by hundreds of other people. Let us just say my family is on the happy list and leave it at that.
Walks in nature and getting in touch with the gods via them make me ecstatic. I love hiking and feeling the power of creation around me. It stirs a lot of emotions in me, but happiness is always among them. There is little anger or fear that can’t be put in its useless place by a walk or hike in nature.
Stories even the bad ones also bring me joy. It’s why I love comic books. It’s why I love being a story teller. It’s why I love the theatre. It’s why I love mythology. It’s the source reason for about a dozen things that make me happy. I truly believe that good stories are the god’s way of speaking to us.
The list may seem short but it’s really not. With the exception of my lady I am always surrounded by these things. Friends, family, stories and place to walk in nature are literally around me every day. I try to appreciate them which is hard as they are always there and easy to take for granted. Actually I hope before to long to add my lady to the list of things I see daily too. Any who for that’s my list of things that cause happiness for me. Not as exciting as sarcastic, and amusing complaining, but far more important too my life. Do I really expect any one out there to care? No. however I did feel it was important for me to let them know I do.
So what make me happy? Well, let us see.
Let’s start with my lady. I know it seems typical but she truly is the light of my life. Call it cheesy; call it what ever you want I do love her. Yes she is 19 years younger then I am but she still is the only one I want to be with. Best part about her, she wants to be with me. Yeah I love that she gets my geeky comic book jokes. Yes she is hot. It is true that we are “physically compatible”. However the “wanting to be with me” thing tops any list I have.
Next let’s move on to those (some of whom are reading) who I call friend. I hold my friends close even when I lose touch with them. Heck I recently saw a couple of friends that I hadn’t seen since before my lady was born (that would be 20 years ago). Call me crazy I like hanging out with people I feel I can trust. (Yes I have had a few people I called friend turn their back on me. However at the risk of sounding angry, the only one I know for certain did this also started the relationship with his now wife by betraying a friend and his then girlfriend, so I doubt he knows true friendship.) Friends are good to have and I am always glad to help them when I can. Also with enough friends you can throw a party and those are always fun.
I am glad to have the family that I do, the people who have to help you and whom you have to help. There is very little I can say about family that hasn’t been said better by hundreds of other people. Let us just say my family is on the happy list and leave it at that.
Walks in nature and getting in touch with the gods via them make me ecstatic. I love hiking and feeling the power of creation around me. It stirs a lot of emotions in me, but happiness is always among them. There is little anger or fear that can’t be put in its useless place by a walk or hike in nature.
Stories even the bad ones also bring me joy. It’s why I love comic books. It’s why I love being a story teller. It’s why I love the theatre. It’s why I love mythology. It’s the source reason for about a dozen things that make me happy. I truly believe that good stories are the god’s way of speaking to us.
The list may seem short but it’s really not. With the exception of my lady I am always surrounded by these things. Friends, family, stories and place to walk in nature are literally around me every day. I try to appreciate them which is hard as they are always there and easy to take for granted. Actually I hope before to long to add my lady to the list of things I see daily too. Any who for that’s my list of things that cause happiness for me. Not as exciting as sarcastic, and amusing complaining, but far more important too my life. Do I really expect any one out there to care? No. however I did feel it was important for me to let them know I do.
Friday, February 6, 2009
The 14th
Hey there everybody, time to blog, like it or not. I thought about writing a piece about how the Republicans damaged the country and the Democrats were now making it worse. The more I thought about it the more the two parties reminded me of a couple in a bad relationship. Then I looked at the date and said “HEY, it’s February, that’s the month we celebrate bad relationships, so maybe you should blog on that.”
“Why Bradleyman what ever do you mean ‘celebrate bad relationships’?” I am so glad you asked.
For those of you who may not know this about me I HATE Valentine’s Day (VD from here out). Ok, I actually like the idea as presented. “A day to celibate and show appreciation for the one you love”, that sounds so nice. The intentions (at least on the surface) are so nice. Well if EVER good intentions have paved a way to the “Bad place of your choice” this is it.
The thing is VD was created by card companies to sell cards. They didn’t care about love they cared about sales. So they hyped up the day and created a problem, one they will continue to hype as long as it is profitable. The damage it may cause is technically not their fault, so it’s hard to be too mad at them, for cashing a buck in this manner. However let us not pretend that the idea was created by people who cared, or care about love.
“Ok Rev. Bradleyman” I hear my more observant readers begin to ask “but you said ‘celebrate bad relationships’ earlier and corporate start or not VD celebrates ALL relationships.” Well argued reader, but while you are technically right, the structure of the day is only of benefit to the bad relationships, and therefore that is what the celebration is truly about.
Let me explain, if you are n a good relationship then VD is just another reason to do something nice for your mate. There are lots of those. Yes they do nice things for each other on VD, they also do the same nice things (Dinner, chocolate, etc.) with out it. They would still do those things with out the “special day”, so good relationships in no way benefit from it. I am not saying they are hurt by it, but it ultimately it doesn’t benefit them so it’s not really a day about them.
Who does the day actually benefit, and therefore (IMHO) celebrate? It benefits only the “Bad” relationships; some of which are not even really relationships. Read on and I will demonstrate.
VD benefits the “but he/she loves me so I will forgive his/her abuse” relationships. This works together with other “gift giving” days (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) as an excuse to stay in an otherwise neglectful or abusive relationship. The victim in the relationship will say “but he/she bought me flowers on VD” and use that as a reason to stay in the bad relation ship. Whether the abuser is only neglectful or full on “smash your face” abusive the relationship is bad and VD has made it stronger. This is the main type of “bad” from my perspective. It is also, all joking aside, the worst type of relationship aided by VD.
VD benefits the “hey I love you lets F***, oh I’m done later” type of relationship. This is usually a guy puling this on a girl so I’m gona talk about it that way. This type of relationship (and it only barely counts as one) is the one MOST assisted by VD. We all know an instance of this; He charms her till she give in to sex, then once he’s done he never talks to her again. In this day and age with casual hook ups being more socially acceptable you would hope the lying bastards who do this would hook up with a chick that didn’t care about love, BUT we all know he won’t. The “challenge” of landing a girl who wants love will cause him to lie, and her to be devastated. VD gives a great excuse for giving presents of false love to a sweet romantic girl with out her radar going off. Then “Wham Bam Thank you Mam”, one more broken heart and one more guilt ridden Girl.
VD benefits the “But we DO love each other SEE” couple. This is a less damaging relationship but still not a good one. Think about it you know at least one of these. They aren’t really bad for each other they just aren’t good for each other. They both are settling for the other and not looking at the better possibilities. Often they both have a first pick that you as “the good and trusted friend” know they prefer over their mate. Yet if ANYONE dares to even hint that they are less then 100% in love they hit the roof. VD is their day to prove how much they love each other. They will go WAY over the top with hearts of red and pink on all of the huge amounts gifts they will give. This will help show any one that their love is “true”. This is more annoying then tragic, but it is still slightly sad.
VD benefits the “hey lets F***” non-relationship. To be fair I don’t even really see this as a problem as long as both parties know that’s all it is. There are complications but they are the same as any random hook up. Not the least of which is a chance of catching an entirely different type of “VD”. (Oh admit it you have been waiting the entire blog for me to make that joke) So why bring it up at all? Because while I don’t disapprove of the action, it shouldn’t be called love, cause it is in no way love. It is lust and the two emotions getting confused is always a problem. The chances of one party mistaking love for lust increases dramatically on VD. Now we have an accidental version of the “hey I love you lets F***, oh I’m done later”, made worse by the fact that the “guy” (although in this case it could be girl) didn’t mean to and now feels falsely accused of being a liar. To be fair I have seen cases where both parties make this mistake. I call that “falling love after falling in bed”.
VD benefits the “hey lets start dating” pre-relationship. OK this is not a bad thing; it’s not really a good thing either though. I do have to admit that if you are shy and haven’t been able to ask the person you have a crush on out, VD can give an excuse that makes you fell less awkward. What type of relationship, good or bad, remains to be seen. However to be fair to the day, I will admit that this is a possible silver lining to the pink and red funnel cloud that is VD.
Now that we have established who this day benefits I would like to take a moment a discus who it hurts. Just in case you thought there were no innocent bystanders in this Cupid Bowed drive by. You might think I would include the victims in the first two above examples. However I am cynical enough to not call them innocent, even the poor girl who got lied to probably should have know better. No I am talking about the unattached.
To be single on VD is to have what ever feeling you have about being single amplified in a near infinite level. VD turns anger in to rage. VD turns sad in to depressed. VD turns a guy with a crush in to a stalker. VD turns a girl who can’t get a date in to a suicide hot line case. Every happy couple becomes a personal insult when you are single on VD. If you are single due to a recent breakup everything in this paragraph will be even worse. It is the damage to the single psyche that truly makes me HATE VD in that special “all caps” sort of way.
So in conclusion, VD is no help to the good relationships, lots of help to the bad, and devastating to the single people. If ever there was a holiday to be hated this is it. I challenge you to find a day that does more harm in the name of love then this one.
Bradleyman
P.S. If you believe that Fri. the 13th is unlucky (which I don’t) then the number of “recently broken up” misery caused by VD should be even higher this year as it come only a day before. What a happy thought. (that was sarcasm there kids)
“Why Bradleyman what ever do you mean ‘celebrate bad relationships’?” I am so glad you asked.
For those of you who may not know this about me I HATE Valentine’s Day (VD from here out). Ok, I actually like the idea as presented. “A day to celibate and show appreciation for the one you love”, that sounds so nice. The intentions (at least on the surface) are so nice. Well if EVER good intentions have paved a way to the “Bad place of your choice” this is it.
The thing is VD was created by card companies to sell cards. They didn’t care about love they cared about sales. So they hyped up the day and created a problem, one they will continue to hype as long as it is profitable. The damage it may cause is technically not their fault, so it’s hard to be too mad at them, for cashing a buck in this manner. However let us not pretend that the idea was created by people who cared, or care about love.
“Ok Rev. Bradleyman” I hear my more observant readers begin to ask “but you said ‘celebrate bad relationships’ earlier and corporate start or not VD celebrates ALL relationships.” Well argued reader, but while you are technically right, the structure of the day is only of benefit to the bad relationships, and therefore that is what the celebration is truly about.
Let me explain, if you are n a good relationship then VD is just another reason to do something nice for your mate. There are lots of those. Yes they do nice things for each other on VD, they also do the same nice things (Dinner, chocolate, etc.) with out it. They would still do those things with out the “special day”, so good relationships in no way benefit from it. I am not saying they are hurt by it, but it ultimately it doesn’t benefit them so it’s not really a day about them.
Who does the day actually benefit, and therefore (IMHO) celebrate? It benefits only the “Bad” relationships; some of which are not even really relationships. Read on and I will demonstrate.
VD benefits the “but he/she loves me so I will forgive his/her abuse” relationships. This works together with other “gift giving” days (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) as an excuse to stay in an otherwise neglectful or abusive relationship. The victim in the relationship will say “but he/she bought me flowers on VD” and use that as a reason to stay in the bad relation ship. Whether the abuser is only neglectful or full on “smash your face” abusive the relationship is bad and VD has made it stronger. This is the main type of “bad” from my perspective. It is also, all joking aside, the worst type of relationship aided by VD.
VD benefits the “hey I love you lets F***, oh I’m done later” type of relationship. This is usually a guy puling this on a girl so I’m gona talk about it that way. This type of relationship (and it only barely counts as one) is the one MOST assisted by VD. We all know an instance of this; He charms her till she give in to sex, then once he’s done he never talks to her again. In this day and age with casual hook ups being more socially acceptable you would hope the lying bastards who do this would hook up with a chick that didn’t care about love, BUT we all know he won’t. The “challenge” of landing a girl who wants love will cause him to lie, and her to be devastated. VD gives a great excuse for giving presents of false love to a sweet romantic girl with out her radar going off. Then “Wham Bam Thank you Mam”, one more broken heart and one more guilt ridden Girl.
VD benefits the “But we DO love each other SEE” couple. This is a less damaging relationship but still not a good one. Think about it you know at least one of these. They aren’t really bad for each other they just aren’t good for each other. They both are settling for the other and not looking at the better possibilities. Often they both have a first pick that you as “the good and trusted friend” know they prefer over their mate. Yet if ANYONE dares to even hint that they are less then 100% in love they hit the roof. VD is their day to prove how much they love each other. They will go WAY over the top with hearts of red and pink on all of the huge amounts gifts they will give. This will help show any one that their love is “true”. This is more annoying then tragic, but it is still slightly sad.
VD benefits the “hey lets F***” non-relationship. To be fair I don’t even really see this as a problem as long as both parties know that’s all it is. There are complications but they are the same as any random hook up. Not the least of which is a chance of catching an entirely different type of “VD”. (Oh admit it you have been waiting the entire blog for me to make that joke) So why bring it up at all? Because while I don’t disapprove of the action, it shouldn’t be called love, cause it is in no way love. It is lust and the two emotions getting confused is always a problem. The chances of one party mistaking love for lust increases dramatically on VD. Now we have an accidental version of the “hey I love you lets F***, oh I’m done later”, made worse by the fact that the “guy” (although in this case it could be girl) didn’t mean to and now feels falsely accused of being a liar. To be fair I have seen cases where both parties make this mistake. I call that “falling love after falling in bed”.
VD benefits the “hey lets start dating” pre-relationship. OK this is not a bad thing; it’s not really a good thing either though. I do have to admit that if you are shy and haven’t been able to ask the person you have a crush on out, VD can give an excuse that makes you fell less awkward. What type of relationship, good or bad, remains to be seen. However to be fair to the day, I will admit that this is a possible silver lining to the pink and red funnel cloud that is VD.
Now that we have established who this day benefits I would like to take a moment a discus who it hurts. Just in case you thought there were no innocent bystanders in this Cupid Bowed drive by. You might think I would include the victims in the first two above examples. However I am cynical enough to not call them innocent, even the poor girl who got lied to probably should have know better. No I am talking about the unattached.
To be single on VD is to have what ever feeling you have about being single amplified in a near infinite level. VD turns anger in to rage. VD turns sad in to depressed. VD turns a guy with a crush in to a stalker. VD turns a girl who can’t get a date in to a suicide hot line case. Every happy couple becomes a personal insult when you are single on VD. If you are single due to a recent breakup everything in this paragraph will be even worse. It is the damage to the single psyche that truly makes me HATE VD in that special “all caps” sort of way.
So in conclusion, VD is no help to the good relationships, lots of help to the bad, and devastating to the single people. If ever there was a holiday to be hated this is it. I challenge you to find a day that does more harm in the name of love then this one.
Bradleyman
P.S. If you believe that Fri. the 13th is unlucky (which I don’t) then the number of “recently broken up” misery caused by VD should be even higher this year as it come only a day before. What a happy thought. (that was sarcasm there kids)
Friday, January 30, 2009
A Rant
Before we begin I wish to apologize for two things, first the lag in bloging. I am late and really do plan to post at least once a week, second, for the angry tone that you may find here. I was hoping to wait until March before writing anything to upsetting just to give us all a break after the election madness. However every time I have tried to write a witty amusing blog the subject of this one has given me writers block. I am pissed and need to vent. I will still try to be polite here BUT I am venting to cure writers block and can’t promise to be nice. Also I WANT the people I am angry at to know I am mad and why.
So why am I so pissed? Well see there was this little thing called Proposition 8. It was used to ban gay marriage in Ca. I covered it in Nov. in that post I discussed how religious marriage and state partnership should be separate. I tried to allow for everyone’s beliefs. So then in Dec. 6 issue of Newsweek I read this, http://www.newsweek.com/id/172653. (Go ahead and read it I’ll wait….Done? Then onward). Now I am pissed at every one of you who used the Bible as an excuse to vote for this hateful Proposition. IF you voted based on the Leviticus in the Old Testament, but you eat shrimp, and sleep with your spouse when the female is menstruating, then you are a hypocrite as well as being the SAME type of abomination as the men who sleep with men. You also have NO leg to stand on for stopping woman on woman action. IF you believe that Christ released you from the outdated rules of Leviticus then you have NO Bible based reason to be opposed to gay marriage. If you can show me where Christ or any of his apostles said “Marriage is one man and one woman” then I will apologize until then I hold you in contempt for lying to the world about what your savior said.
Here’s the thing, I like the Christian religion. It is beautiful and loving. Like a lot of religions it has rules. The rules are in a book. As I understand it ALL the rules come from the Bible. So as some one who doesn’t read passages from the book on a weekly basis I trust the people who are supposed to when they tell me there is something in the book. If you tell me that you can’t eat shrimp or work on the Sabbath and then tell me it’s in the Bible I will trust you on that. I don’t usually ask for the passage, I trust you to represent your religion honestly. When it effects me more directly I may ask to see the passage but that is a rare happening. So when you tell me that to you Homosexuality is bad because it’s in the Bible I tend to believe you even if I disagree. Even if it means you support a proposition that hurts people I care about, I will let it slide the same way I won’t make you eat the yummy and good for you sea food. I do have a problem when you force your views on marriage on even non Christians. However if you tell me it’s a moral issue, from the Bible, then I at least can think that your intentions are good. If you are lying about what is your book then you are scum who lies in order to cause pain. I don’t care why you did it. Either you lied when you told me what was in the Bible or you lied when you claimed to be Christian enough to have actually read it. Either way you have now taken an action that caused pain to gay couples and lied about why. If you use the Bible lie to support you’re causing of that pain then you will suffer what ever fate those who distort the Word of God to cause pain are meant to suffer. Further more I will now treat you with the lack of trust and respect a person who lies about there morals and beliefs deserves. That is to say the only reason I don’t spit on you is because you are not worth the spit. I despise the hatful distortion of political control you have turned a beautiful religion in to. I no longer have respect for ANY ONE who claims that keeping gay people from getting married comes from the Bible. IF I am shown scripture I may take it back and apologize, but until then you are false Christians with no true reason to be causing this pain. I am sick and tired of being treated like I am immoral for supporting gay marriage by people who are immoral enough to lie about their religion.
If your reason for supporting prop 8 is not based on the Bible then we disagree but you are not necessarily scum. I hope you have a good reason for keeping people who love each other apart, cause if you don’t then you ARE indeed scum, but at least you don’t lie about what your religion says.
So until someone shows me where in the Bible Jesus or one of his Apostils actually said marriage equals one man and one woman, I am going to treat all who spread that lie like the immoral untrustable lying scum they are.
Rant over lets hope the next Blog is a happy one
Bradleyman
So why am I so pissed? Well see there was this little thing called Proposition 8. It was used to ban gay marriage in Ca. I covered it in Nov. in that post I discussed how religious marriage and state partnership should be separate. I tried to allow for everyone’s beliefs. So then in Dec. 6 issue of Newsweek I read this, http://www.newsweek.com/id/172653. (Go ahead and read it I’ll wait….Done? Then onward). Now I am pissed at every one of you who used the Bible as an excuse to vote for this hateful Proposition. IF you voted based on the Leviticus in the Old Testament, but you eat shrimp, and sleep with your spouse when the female is menstruating, then you are a hypocrite as well as being the SAME type of abomination as the men who sleep with men. You also have NO leg to stand on for stopping woman on woman action. IF you believe that Christ released you from the outdated rules of Leviticus then you have NO Bible based reason to be opposed to gay marriage. If you can show me where Christ or any of his apostles said “Marriage is one man and one woman” then I will apologize until then I hold you in contempt for lying to the world about what your savior said.
Here’s the thing, I like the Christian religion. It is beautiful and loving. Like a lot of religions it has rules. The rules are in a book. As I understand it ALL the rules come from the Bible. So as some one who doesn’t read passages from the book on a weekly basis I trust the people who are supposed to when they tell me there is something in the book. If you tell me that you can’t eat shrimp or work on the Sabbath and then tell me it’s in the Bible I will trust you on that. I don’t usually ask for the passage, I trust you to represent your religion honestly. When it effects me more directly I may ask to see the passage but that is a rare happening. So when you tell me that to you Homosexuality is bad because it’s in the Bible I tend to believe you even if I disagree. Even if it means you support a proposition that hurts people I care about, I will let it slide the same way I won’t make you eat the yummy and good for you sea food. I do have a problem when you force your views on marriage on even non Christians. However if you tell me it’s a moral issue, from the Bible, then I at least can think that your intentions are good. If you are lying about what is your book then you are scum who lies in order to cause pain. I don’t care why you did it. Either you lied when you told me what was in the Bible or you lied when you claimed to be Christian enough to have actually read it. Either way you have now taken an action that caused pain to gay couples and lied about why. If you use the Bible lie to support you’re causing of that pain then you will suffer what ever fate those who distort the Word of God to cause pain are meant to suffer. Further more I will now treat you with the lack of trust and respect a person who lies about there morals and beliefs deserves. That is to say the only reason I don’t spit on you is because you are not worth the spit. I despise the hatful distortion of political control you have turned a beautiful religion in to. I no longer have respect for ANY ONE who claims that keeping gay people from getting married comes from the Bible. IF I am shown scripture I may take it back and apologize, but until then you are false Christians with no true reason to be causing this pain. I am sick and tired of being treated like I am immoral for supporting gay marriage by people who are immoral enough to lie about their religion.
If your reason for supporting prop 8 is not based on the Bible then we disagree but you are not necessarily scum. I hope you have a good reason for keeping people who love each other apart, cause if you don’t then you ARE indeed scum, but at least you don’t lie about what your religion says.
So until someone shows me where in the Bible Jesus or one of his Apostils actually said marriage equals one man and one woman, I am going to treat all who spread that lie like the immoral untrustable lying scum they are.
Rant over lets hope the next Blog is a happy one
Bradleyman
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Casual Sex
So, today as I wait for my love to call (it’s early and she isn’t up yet, better to wait then awaken) I am thinking about casual sex. It’s an odd thought as I truly hope to NEVER have to deal it again. Why? Well I could say it’s because I love my lady, and that is the biggest reason, but far from the only one. See the thing is back in the day (which is to say my 20’s) I somehow became the guy people complained too. I say people because it wasn’t just guys or girls it was both. I have maintained that status (although to a lesser degree) to this day. A large percentage of the complaints were, are (and probably will continue to be) related to casual sex (CS). Not the sex it’s self mind you, but the after effects. After listening for years I have a small list of things to think about in regards to CS. It would be best if you though of them before having it, but we all know you won’t until after. If you think of them during you are doing it wrong any way so stop and go home.
First, “casual” means no strings. That means don’t get attached. If you are getting attached it’s no longer casual. This goes for both sexes. If you are trying to jump start a romance by jumping in to bed, it’s not casual. I’m not saying you can’t start a romance this way. Sex can actually be a good way for two people to get together, but if you call it casual and are expecting anything past breakfast you are going to get hurt. I blame the person who gets too attached in cases like this. Ladies if all he promised was a night of passion he is not a jerk for only giving you that. Guys not all ladies fall in love after a night of passion don’t expect her too.
Second, “casual” means one night in a given month. Ok it doesn’t have to be a night and the next morning can be considered a continuation. However the second time you have an encounter with the same person that close together it’s becoming something, and the third time it IS something. What that something is depends on the people involved, but if you don’t discus it with you new partner in whatever, it will become a mess. I have listened to SO many complaints caused by this in my life. This is both sides fault as well. See thing is we humans like to be paired up and we like sex, start combining those thing in an even slightly regular basis and both brain and body adjust to the convenience. You interactions have now moved out side the realm of casual, and ignoring that will cause pain. Make all the excuses you want, you are now “involved”.
Third, “casual” means dangerous. The only place in life where those two words can mean the same thing is sex. If you don’t know the various medical reasons (like death and birth) then stop having sex altogether (or don’t have sex if that’s appropriate). However there are other dangers as well. Crazy people!!!!! If you don’t know your partner that well, he or she may be what the British folk like to call a “nutter”. One night of passion can lead to years of stalking. If you are lucky it’s only a creepy “leave notes and collect hair type” as opposed to a “kill you slow for not loving me right” type. I been complained to by people who were acting like stalkers, I have heard their madness and it frightened me. It can not be reasoned with.
Forth, “casual” often means no “discussing” and in sex that is BAD. Not talking to you sex partner is NEVER a good idea. Even casual sex should have some talking involved. If it doesn’t you have only yourself to blame. A lack of conversation also greatly increases all of my third point. In my heart of hearts I believe that guys with VD and girls with issues that lead to stalking both purposely try to NOT talk.
So after that what’s my advice on casual sex? Don’t have it. Hook up with a “friend with benefits”, masturbate, or start dating. I’m not saying that humans aren’t capable of having casual sex, with out trouble. It could happen, but most the people I know who might be able to handle it, are in relationships because of bad experiences with people who weren’t. The odds of you a) actually being able to handle it and b) randomly hooking up with another who can are astronomical against you. So my advice, just don’t.
This advice is free and nonprofessional, so take it as you will. However know that if you complain to me about ANY of the above I will be laughing at you behind your back at some point in time.
Bradleyman
First, “casual” means no strings. That means don’t get attached. If you are getting attached it’s no longer casual. This goes for both sexes. If you are trying to jump start a romance by jumping in to bed, it’s not casual. I’m not saying you can’t start a romance this way. Sex can actually be a good way for two people to get together, but if you call it casual and are expecting anything past breakfast you are going to get hurt. I blame the person who gets too attached in cases like this. Ladies if all he promised was a night of passion he is not a jerk for only giving you that. Guys not all ladies fall in love after a night of passion don’t expect her too.
Second, “casual” means one night in a given month. Ok it doesn’t have to be a night and the next morning can be considered a continuation. However the second time you have an encounter with the same person that close together it’s becoming something, and the third time it IS something. What that something is depends on the people involved, but if you don’t discus it with you new partner in whatever, it will become a mess. I have listened to SO many complaints caused by this in my life. This is both sides fault as well. See thing is we humans like to be paired up and we like sex, start combining those thing in an even slightly regular basis and both brain and body adjust to the convenience. You interactions have now moved out side the realm of casual, and ignoring that will cause pain. Make all the excuses you want, you are now “involved”.
Third, “casual” means dangerous. The only place in life where those two words can mean the same thing is sex. If you don’t know the various medical reasons (like death and birth) then stop having sex altogether (or don’t have sex if that’s appropriate). However there are other dangers as well. Crazy people!!!!! If you don’t know your partner that well, he or she may be what the British folk like to call a “nutter”. One night of passion can lead to years of stalking. If you are lucky it’s only a creepy “leave notes and collect hair type” as opposed to a “kill you slow for not loving me right” type. I been complained to by people who were acting like stalkers, I have heard their madness and it frightened me. It can not be reasoned with.
Forth, “casual” often means no “discussing” and in sex that is BAD. Not talking to you sex partner is NEVER a good idea. Even casual sex should have some talking involved. If it doesn’t you have only yourself to blame. A lack of conversation also greatly increases all of my third point. In my heart of hearts I believe that guys with VD and girls with issues that lead to stalking both purposely try to NOT talk.
So after that what’s my advice on casual sex? Don’t have it. Hook up with a “friend with benefits”, masturbate, or start dating. I’m not saying that humans aren’t capable of having casual sex, with out trouble. It could happen, but most the people I know who might be able to handle it, are in relationships because of bad experiences with people who weren’t. The odds of you a) actually being able to handle it and b) randomly hooking up with another who can are astronomical against you. So my advice, just don’t.
This advice is free and nonprofessional, so take it as you will. However know that if you complain to me about ANY of the above I will be laughing at you behind your back at some point in time.
Bradleyman
Monday, January 12, 2009
color
Let me start by saying this is slightly comic book related…But only slightly get past the mention of the greatest super hero ever, and it may be interesting. It has been revealed in Green Lantern that Green is the color of “emotional will”, and that the other six colors of the spectrum each belong to a different emotion. In honor of that I have decided to create a little game. I am going to list the color, the DCU emotional equivalent and something that makes me feel that emotion. If you want to play along send me back your list, oh loyal readers.
Red-Anger: I am made angery by people who twist good religions in to excuses to hate.
Orange- Greed: I would like to have the $$ to open a comic store with out stress.
Yellow- Fear: I equally fear success and not succeeding.
Green- Will: I will write blogs and stories more often.
Blue- Hope: I Hope to open a comic book store.
Indigo- Compassion: I feel a sad compassion toward the couples ripped apart by prop. 8.
Violet- Love: I love Cristyna
There Ya go short but sweet.
Bradleyman
Friday, January 9, 2009
The first 09 blog
OK. First let me say Happy New year to all. Then Let me tell you I decided to write at least a blog a week. I did this like most do resolutions but I am hoping by calling it a promise I am more likely to keep it.
With that out of the way a warning, if you don’t read comics, what follows is going to probably bore you. Yes I do have some witty political thoughts and some interesting spiritual ideas to share this year, but I thought I would start light. Besides I have always meant for my blogs to talk more about comics.
Over the Holidays, I had a chance to read Marvel’s mega cross over “Secret Invasion”(SI), having been low on cash for the last year I missed it as it was coming out, so I relished the chance.
Before I go on a bit of personal history, I (unlike many who read comics it seems) am a fan or the cross over events. I don’t care if it’s two heroes or teams meeting to solve a mutual problem, or a company wide event, I love them. My love for comics was born with the JLA/JSA/LSH crossover and a Marvel two-in-one in 1976 so that might have shaped my tastes. I like the idea that what happens in one part of a company’s universe can affect other parts. So yeah, nothing brings out the comic geek in me like a crossover.
Another thing I really like in the Marvel U is the warring alien races of the Kree and The Skrull. I don’t know why, I didn’t read the classic Kree / Skrull war until January of last year so that wasn’t it. There was just something about two different alien races (who really have each other) fighting over earth while our heroes kept both at bay, that I found incredibly appealing.
A year or so prior to SI, Marvel’s previous cross over event Civil War (CW) had made me very happy. I know some didn’t care for it, mostly because they felt, insert favorite character, had been misrepresented. I however liked it a lot. One of the things I liked, (and I know those who didn’t) was that there were two titles, that told the story, Civil War, had the main action, and Civil War Front Line, had the mystery behind it. In a cross over it is sometimes hard to fit both in the pages at once (the end of DC’s Infinite Crisis suffered from a bit of that), and it would be cheating to put the information in a solo or team title, so Marvel split the action. It worked IF you knew what they were doing, but I know a lot of people who missed what was going on.
So just before the New Year I got my hands on the entire run of SU and sat down to read it. If you read the above, Oh reader and thought “With this much explanation he must be preparing to give a negative report” then you win a “null-prize”*.
It started out great, shape shifting Skrull spies everywhere, new cool Super-Skrull variants, and OMG level teasers about who might be a shape shifting alien. Then Nick Furry showed up. After that it is a huge fight and rescue story which might be ok IF they answered a single question they brought up. They don’t. The story starts with HUGE mystery about how and who, and then doesn’t answer ANY of the questions it asks. It would be an OK comic, if it gave us those answers but it doesn’t. It is the comic equivalent of a cock- tease. I HATED it, and I am a guy who even likes bad comics.
Then I realized there was a comic called “Secret Invasion Frontline” and breathed a sigh of relief, “Marvel has done the same thing twice, all will be reviled”, so I got my hands On SIFL and it reveled NOTHING about SI. It was a great “normal guy in the Marvel U” story and I enjoyed reading it. However, it told me NOTHING about the questions raised in SI**.
SI sucked!!! It started good then went nowhere. They used it to kill the Wasp in a crappy way that I don’t even think makes sense, and I defended Hawkeye’s death in Avengers Disassembled to people. I was left still wondering how and why the bad guys did what they did. If you haven’t answered that question you have failed to finish your story, and if you failed in telling your story. What we got in the final issue was a “And here is the way the Universe will be”, with out a single explanation as to why.
That by the way is the really sad part of this. I liked CW, but was less then fond of the incurably forced aftermath it left behind. SI makes all of that even worse and gives us NO explanation as to how we got to this point.
I really wanted to like SI, but I just can’t. It fails to even be a story, as stories, even in comic books, have an end. It is an insult to comic fans and Marvel should (but won’t be) ashamed of it’s self.
Bradleyman
* My personal equivalent of the No-Prize derived from my surname
** I would like to reiterate that this series is a good read any way.
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